Apple has ceased sales of some of its older iPhone models in India in a bid to improve its flagging profitability and average selling price in the country.
The company today withdrew the iPhone 4s, which was selling for as low as Rs 12,000 ($175), in a move aimed at increasing share and acquiring new customers. Apple also stopped selling its iPhone 5c model, priced at Rs 20,000 ($292), marking the company's exit from India's fast-growing sub-Rs 20,000 mobile market, reports The Economic Times.
According to Counterpoint Research, Apple's average selling price in India increased sequentially during the last quarter of 2015 due to the introduction of the iPhone 6s, but it declined 20 percent compared to that a year ago. Analysts believe the latest move is likely to lead to an increase in share for its main rival Samsung as well as Chinese brands.
However, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, Tarun Pathak, believes the iPhone 5s will fill the gap created by the removal of the iPhone 4s.
"The recent price cut of iPhone 5s is in line with Apple's strategy of positioning this model as affordable in emerging countries and will continue to pull an aspirational young audience looking to upgrade their smartphones in the midsegment," said Pathak.
In December, Apple cut the prices of its iPhone 6s and 6s Plus handsets in India by up to 16 percent, following a reported dive in sales. The move quickly followed Apple's decision to halve the price of iPhone 5s, from 45,500 Rupees to 24,999 Rupees.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently earmarked India's booming mobile market as a significant focus of energy for the company. Over 200 million people own smartphones there, which is still less than a third of the country's population.
Today also saw the launch of India's cheapest smartphone, a $7 handset being manufactured by domestic handset maker Ringing Bells as part of the government's Made in India campaign.
Top Rated Comments
Also, people coming to the US to make money ? Isn't that a surprise now! :rolleyes: I'm sure every other first gen. immigrant, including..well pretty much every continent.. comes here for a different reason ? I suggest you go back and read the US history before displaying your extreme lack of IQ!
Again, ONE guy loves screwing the US over LOL..
You sure get around a lot... seems like with a pink slip!
Best non-US citizens to talk with are Russians and Africans! lol.. which one are YOU ?
[doublepost=1455730631][/doublepost]Hmm... who claims India is the most richest or powerful country ? What are your sources ? Anything to back up your POS statement ?
Putting India and Pak in the same statement is direct reflection of your ignorance and lack of awareness.. I should stop right there .. I guess I will..it's really hard to debate with uneducated bottom feeders!
For the record I get around a lot due to my job. Get the chance to talk to many different people from all over the world. Best non-US citizens to talk with Russians and Africans.
Europeans - and especially the British - have, for the most part, an entirely different view of India and Pakistan.
And well I for one didn't come here for money, I came here for the much better quality of life and environment, away from the maddening pollution of New Delhi and the mad corruption I faced at every step of my life there.
I can't say enough about how much better life here is as compared to how it was back there, and I am grateful to Canada for giving me this opportunity. I can never even dream of criticizing the country which gave me so much in the end.
One ?
Do think the world would be better or worse with out the USA?
Have a nice day.