The move is a show of faith from three of the world's biggest technology companies in fast-growing Snapdeal

It was not immediately known how many jobs the proposed new plants would eventually create.

Analysts expect the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus to sell well in China, where many people prefer phones with larger screens.

Apple had taken Shanghai-based Zhizhen Internet Technology and China's State Intellectual Property Office to court to seek a ruling that Zhizhen's patent rights to a speech recognition technology were invalid.

The companies did not immediately give a figure for the investment, but Chinese state media reported earlier on Thursday it would total 1.2 billion yuan ($192 million).

Microsoft, responding to the rights group's allegations, said a system fault had removed some search results for users outside China.