Apple joins hands with Flipkart to sell iPhone 7 in India

NEW DELHI:India’s online retail giant  Flipkart seems to have hit a jackpot by striking a partnership with Apple to introduce iPhone 7 in India. The deal is also expected to expand to include iPads, Macs and other Apple products in the near future.

Bengaluru-based e-commerce portal will be sourcing iPhone 7 directly from Apple this time, unlike previous years when it would source the phones from third-party sellers. Infibeam, which has been an Apple partner for some years, will also receive the new iPhones directly, but it is known more as a bulk seller, one that does not deal with consumers directly.

Apart from greater credibility, the partnership will also have some significant, material benefits as well. Flipkart, which has the largest etail market share in India, generates a major chunk of its revenues from sales of smartphones. Multiple smartphone brands, including Motorola and LeEco, sell exclusively on Flipkart.

The deal will ensure that Flipkart’s cost of obtaining these devices will be driven down leading to greater margins and increased profits for the company. This should surely help the company in the coming festive season and give it an edge over its rival, Amazon.

Also, the partnership will keep Apple’s pricing schemes intact and prevent scenarios like last year, where its iPhone 6 and 6S were sold at discounted rates by various e–commerce giants in a bid to drive up their GMV.