Apple has partnered with Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce website, to sell the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus online in that country. They’ll go on sale Oct. 7.
Under the deal, Flipkart will source iPhones directly from Apple, unlike earlier when it used to source them from third-party retailers in a marketplace model. Infibeam — an Indian internet and e-commerce conglomerate involved in online retailing, e-commerce software and internet services — will be another online partner.
However, according to BGR, the scope of Apple’s partnership with Flipkart and Infibeam differs in terms of the product catalog they will sell. According to what Apple is calling “Authorised Resellers for Internet or catalogue sales” in India, Flipkart will sell across all categories which include iPhones, iPads and Macs. Infibeam, on the other hand, will only sell the iPhone and iPad portfolio of devices, the article adds.
This is an attempt to beef up Apple’s smartphone marketshare in India. According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, shipped just 0.8 million smartphones in India in the second quarter of 2016
In March Apple sought permission from the government in India to sell used iPhones in the country. The goal was to increase its smartphone marketshare in India — which is under 2% right now. However, the government nixed the plan. India’s minister of commerce and industry, Nirmala Sitharaman said, “We are not in favour of any company selling used phones in the company, however certified they may be.”
