NEW DELHI: Even as Apple iPhone 5
launch in India has been delayed by a week to November 2, the company
on Friday started billing in Indian rupee on the App Store.
The move will benefit the vast app developer community that sells on the App Store as well as the users who download paid applications and content from the company's online store.
The billing so far was being done in US dollars. In comparison, Google Play Store has had INR pricing for long. Having a rupee pricing will definitely result in a big convenience for both buyers and sellers as there would be no dollar billing, making the purchase transactions easier and transparent.
Mobile apps revenue has consistently risen for both companies. Even though Google Android based smart phones have cornered more than half the total sales worldwide, Apple still retains a lion's share in paid mobile app revenues and gets almost two-third of the total app revenue generated worldwide.
Until now, Apple has paid $6.5 billion to developers selling their wares on the App Store and more than 35 billion apps have been downloaded since the online store opened in 2008, App Store currently offers over 7.5 lakh apps.
Meanwhile, shipment delays have resulted in the iPhone 5's India launch date being pushed to next Friday i.e. Novermber 2 since Apple has a fetish for launching only on a Friday. When contacted, an Apple India spokesperson refused to comment.
However, a November 2 launch is certain and the stock is expected to start arriving at the master distributors Redington India BSE 0.31 % and Ingram Micro within next two to three days, sources said. The two are expected to start booking pre-orders within a day or two.
Unable to open its own stores in India for direct retail due to unfavourable regulatory requirements and hampered by the high cost of distribution in the country, Apple has tweaked its retail strategy for the flagship product. Until the last time when iPhone 4S was launched, Apple had sold directly in India through its two carrier partners Airtel BSE -0.97 % and Aircel.
The move will benefit the vast app developer community that sells on the App Store as well as the users who download paid applications and content from the company's online store.
The billing so far was being done in US dollars. In comparison, Google Play Store has had INR pricing for long. Having a rupee pricing will definitely result in a big convenience for both buyers and sellers as there would be no dollar billing, making the purchase transactions easier and transparent.
Mobile apps revenue has consistently risen for both companies. Even though Google Android based smart phones have cornered more than half the total sales worldwide, Apple still retains a lion's share in paid mobile app revenues and gets almost two-third of the total app revenue generated worldwide.
Until now, Apple has paid $6.5 billion to developers selling their wares on the App Store and more than 35 billion apps have been downloaded since the online store opened in 2008, App Store currently offers over 7.5 lakh apps.
Meanwhile, shipment delays have resulted in the iPhone 5's India launch date being pushed to next Friday i.e. Novermber 2 since Apple has a fetish for launching only on a Friday. When contacted, an Apple India spokesperson refused to comment.
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However, a November 2 launch is certain and the stock is expected to start arriving at the master distributors Redington India BSE 0.31 % and Ingram Micro within next two to three days, sources said. The two are expected to start booking pre-orders within a day or two.
Unable to open its own stores in India for direct retail due to unfavourable regulatory requirements and hampered by the high cost of distribution in the country, Apple has tweaked its retail strategy for the flagship product. Until the last time when iPhone 4S was launched, Apple had sold directly in India through its two carrier partners Airtel BSE -0.97 % and Aircel.
Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
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