Apple Launching India Smartphone Trade-In Program for Credit Towards iPhone Purchases

Apple is reportedly looking to boost iPhone 5c and iPhone 4S sales in India with a program through its merchants that would allow customers in the region to trade in their old smartphones towards the purchase of a new phone, reports Business Today (via Unwired View). The move is geared toward lowering the cost of Apple's cheaper iPhones for consumers in the country's emerging market, with eligible phones in the program including select BlackBerry and Android devices, as well as Apple's three-year-old iPhone 4.

You will soon be able get up to 13K rupee ($208) discount for an iPhone 5C or 4S, if you bring your old smartphone. The phones eligible for the discount include: BlackBerry Z10, Q10, iPhone 4 8GB, 16GB, Nokia Lumia 925, HTC Desire 500, Desire 600, One Mini, One Dual SIM, Samsung Galaxy Mega (5.8 and 6.3 inch both), S4 Mini, Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 2, Note 3 and Sony’s Xperia C, Xperia ZR, Xperia Z, Xperia Z1 and Xperia Ultra.

Merchants participating in the program will get 2000 Rs commission per device, while customers can now pay 28 900 Rs ($463) instead of 41 900 Rs ($671) for iPhone 5C 16GB, and 18 500 Rs ($296) instead of 31 500 Rs ($504) for iPhone 4S.

Various reports of Apple pushing for growth in India have surfaced in the past few months, with Apple's India executives stating in August that the company was looking to grow in the region by building 100 exclusive standalone franchise stores in small markets. Notably, India does not have any Apple Retail Stores in its country; however a report in January 2012 stated that Apple was interested in building stores in the country after business regulations were eased. Apple was also pushing for 'significant growth' of its reseller network in India as reported last March.

Apple has also offered buyback programs through retail partners in India to lower pricing on the iPhone 4 in the past, although the new effort appears to be much more aggressive.

Furthermore, figures from research firm Canalys reported in August for Q2 2013 showed that India is now the third largest smartphone market in the world, with 129% growth in the region resulting in 9 million smartphone shipments during the quarter. Apple CEO Tim Cook also mentioned during the company’s Q3 2013 earnings call that iPhone sales in India had increased by 400% year-on-year, while the iPad posted double-digit growth in the region, highlighting the potential for future growth in the market.