In an attempt to expand its presence, Apple has teamed up Indian online retailer Flipkart to sell its latest iPhone 7 handset. And Infibeam is it’s only authorized online reseller.
Apple & Flipkart Team up:
As per the strategic partnership, Flipkart will sell all Apple products including iPhones, iPads, and Macs. However, Infibeam will be a bulk seller of iPhone and iPad devices. This clearly mentions that Infibeam doesn’t deal with the consumers directly.
Unlike previous Apple iPhone releases sourcing it from third-party sellers, the Bengaluru-based e-Commerce giant Flipkart will be directly procuring the handsets from Apple.
Similarly, this is a win-win situation for Apple. The tech giant doesn’t have the license to sell products directly in India. So, the customers are directed to third party retail stores. With this strategic partnership, Apple will sell its products through authorized resellers for internet or catalogue sales in India.
Apple for a Bigger Footprint in India:
Thus, Apple for the first time has partnered with a consumer-facing online store to sell its latest iPhone 7 and iPhone Plus. If one considers India’s fastest growing smartphone market, Apple is still a small player. Established international brands such as Microsoft, Sony, Blackberry, and LG are the biggest losers as the market shifted towards value for money handsets. At the other end, phones running on Google’s Android software are dominating the market.
In his recent visit, Apple CEO Tim Cook has set his sights on India for future growth. He said, “We’re looking forward to opening retail stores in India down the road, and we see huge potential for that vibrant country.”
Advantage Flipkart:
On the other hand, Flipkart with 45% market share in gross merchandise value, is ahead of Snapdeal (26%) and Amazon India (12%) as per a research report by Morgan Stanley.
