iphone 5 box 100The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has sold through its initial stocks of the iPhone 5 in India following the device's launch there on Friday, but the company was said to have delivered only 10,000-15,000 units for the first wave of sales.

“We were sold out within 24 hours of launch. It’s all gone,” said Himanshu Chakrawarti, chief executive of The MobileStore Ltd., a retailer that stocks iPhones and which has 900 outlets across India. Apple Inc.’s latest iPhone officially launched in India on Friday, more than a month after it hit major markets elsewhere.

Analysts are expecting Apple to deliver roughly 100,000 iPhone 5 units to India in the first month of availability, jumping to 200,000 by the end of the year.

While those shipment numbers pale in comparison to those seen other populous countries, they do represent a substantial jump over the 50,000 units sent to India in the June quarter, a boost due not only to the introduction of the new hardware but also improved distribution.

(Thanks, Rounak!)

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

Dammit Cubs Avatar
166 months ago
It's not like everyone can afford these phones.

Yes, they have a billion people.
Yes, Apple is supply constraint right now. But some people just can't afford it or choose to buy it at this ridiculous price.

To give you an idea, I was in India for a wedding. One of the servants never saw an iphone before (mesmorized). He asked how much it was, I didn't want to tell him, but I did.

It equaled his yearly income. Why do you think Nokia phones are still popular there? It takes time, but it will be reach everyone.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gotluck Avatar
166 months ago
Actually the price is $836 for a 16gb according to today's exchange rate.
And one basic thing. Price is US is under contract. U pay $200 upfront and then 24 months the rental is over 60-70$ ( this is the base plan)
So basically its much more expensive in USA then its in india at the end of two years.
Ahh well. Ignorance ;)
so... cell and data service is free in India then?

...ignorance
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hrishidev Avatar
166 months ago
iPhone 5 Black 16 GB is easily available at many electronic outlets since day one. I checked it today too. But other varients are still not available & definately demand is insane.

----------

There are over 1.2 billion people in India, but Apple is planning on sending only handsets 200,000 for the entire year? I guess Indians really hate iOS...

All iPhone so far are sold at price more than 700 $(base model price) and not at 200 $ like in US but people are still ready to buy. How many people in US will buy it at 700 $ & how many people in India will go for it if iPhone is 200$ ?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SWPROX Avatar
165 months ago
Oh look, another white guy who thinks he knows everything about just because he visited India once, for a wedding. Here is a little hint. He was a servant. Talk to someone who work in I.T or medical field. Last time I visited India, all I could see was iPhones and iPads.

Really bro-last time all you saw was only iPhones and iPads ! wow ! Am from New Delhi-so am Indian,don't go by that Canada moniker,I work in Canada-and to be honest,70% of the population survives below poverty line,AND what you talking about is the elite 1%,go check your facts-the per captia GDP of india is 1k$. And if you say it's cheap,so adjusting it to PPP it goes to just 3,000$ and you,if you are an Indian,you very well know the disparity which exists there.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hakuna-matata Avatar
165 months ago
Take a look at Galaxy S3 sales in India, they are doing well.
The reason is not that many people can't afford(though it's an imp factor). Main point is many choose not to.And the logic says : price.

India: post iPhone 5 prices of some phones:


iPhone 4 ( 8 gb only ) - 488$
iPhone 4s (16 gb only)- 708$
iPhone 5 (16 gb) - 837$
iPhone 5 (32 gb) - 965$

Samsung Galaxy S3 - 588$
Sam. Galaxy Note II -635$
Htc One X (16 gb ) - 570$

All phones prices come down nearly after 3-4 months of launch in India, but iphone prices remain same through out the whole year.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacCurry Avatar
166 months ago
largest population on the planet but what % of that population can actually afford an iphone?
There are 27 million smart phone users in India growing rapidly. The problem with Apple is that there is no dedicated iTunes store for India. So content is limited especially when India is so wealthy in much of its own music, movies and literature.

Apple can ignore India for now, but risks getting shut out down the road when Samsung is already dominating.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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