Apple iPhone 5 gets a bit cheaper, available at Rs 42,990

For the first time in India, Apple iPhone 5 prices dropped by a significant amount of Rs 2500, dropped from Rs. 45,500 to Rs. 42,990. The largest online retailer Snapdeal has reduced the prices of Apple iPhone 5 in his e-commerce portal.

Snapdeal has been selling mobile or smartphones at cheaper rates, but it would be the first time that an Indian online retailer has dropped iPhone 5 prices. This price is for the 16 GB model of iPhone 5 and similarly the prices of 32 and 64 GB models have dropped to Rs 50,100 and Rs 57,200 respectively, facing a cut of average Rs. 2350.

After the budget announcement by FM P. Chidambaram, which says that the prices of smartphones above Rs. 2000 will be increased, this would be unexpected from most of the people. This price cut will bring some more buyers for Apple iPhone 5 in India.

And now, the Apple iPhone 5 is also a bit cheaper than competitor smartphones like HTC One and Blackberry Z10, which cost Rs. 45,500 and Rs. 43,490 respectively. 

Apart from that, iPhone 4 and 4S prices are also reduced, but Apple iPad prices are still the same. This price reduction will be welcomed by buyers and this also signs that other prominent e-retailers of India will be reducing the prices of iPhone 5 subsequently.

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Buy an iPhone at lower Down Payment and EMIs

It’s been a long time that Apple’s iPhone 5 has been in the Indian market. Even the iPhone 5 sales figures are touching new limits, the Indian figures show lack acceptance and only a gadget to the rich.

To increase the popularity of Apple smartphones in India, Apple India has came up with a new plan which seems to suite the Indian market. The down payment and EMI theories; which are most popular in India and also is quite profitable for both people and banks or finance companies.

YES! Apple’s iPhones are now available with lower down payment and EMI options. Apple India has started distribution of iPhone in India with the help of partners like Redibgton India and Ingram Micro. Here are the new down payment and EMI options for major three smartphones of Apple –

iPhone 5
Down Payment – Rs. 16,990
EMI – 12 EMIs worth Rs. 2376/month or 6 EMIs worth Rs. 4752/month

iPhone 4S
Down Payment – Rs. 9,990
EMI – 12 EMIs worth Rs. 2376/month or 6 EMIs worth Rs. 4752/month

iPhone 4
Down Payment – Rs. 9,990
EMI – 12 EMIs worth Rs. 1376/month or 6 EMIs worth Rs. 2752/month

There would be no processing charges for the above and the options for iPhone 5 are only available on 32 and 64 GB smartphones. The credit partners which can help you with the above are Axis Bank, Citi Bank, HDFC Bank, HSBC Bank, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, Kotak, SBI Card and Standard Chartered. You can avail these options at nearest Apple store, EZone, Planet M, Reliance Digital Store or at The Mobile Store.

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Another Apple gadget heist and this time it’s Paris

As per the reports of Local media of France capital Paris, another mass gadget heist has occurred in the capital. Robbers have looted around $1.3 million worth of iPhones, iPads and Macs. The incident

As the report says, the robbers had chosen the finest occasion of New Year when police will be busy controlling the revelers. Four masked robbers forced into the store through the service entrance and frightened the staff. The store was closed on the occasion of New Year and they didn’t face many hassles.

As per the statement of Christophe Crepin, spokesman for UNSA Police, the robbers went to the basement storeroom and took around 1 million Euros worth iPhones, iPads and other devices. He also added “They knew exactly what they were taking,” and left untouched the display items.

After loading the stolen gadgets into a Mercedes van, the robbers sped off from that place. There are only two Apple Stores at Opera in central Paris and as per media reports, Apple managers are making final estimates of assets loss. Around mid-November last year around 3,600 iPad Minis worth of $ 1.5 million are stolen from JFK Airport.

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iPhone 5 First Weekend Sales in China crosses Two Million

Apple has launched the iPhone 5 in Mainland China and Taiwan just before three days (although we doubt why the country involved with development of iPhone 5 is getting the product so late). Amazingly the sales mark has crossed the 2 million mark just in the first weekend figures and that to merely after three days. When iPhone 5 launched for the first time in nine countries, the sales figures crossed 5 million on first weekend and it has crossed 2 million mark in China only, which proves China to be the biggest market for Apple. CEO Tim Cook says, “Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China. China is a very important market for us and customers there cannot wait to get their hands on Apple products.”

Here is a short Press Release from Apple regarding first weekend sales figures in China [Courtesy- Apple ]

BEIJING—December 17, 2012—Apple® today announced it has sold over two million of its new iPhone® 5 in China, just three days after its launch on December 14. iPhone 5 will be available in more than 100 countries by the end of December, making it the fastest iPhone rollout ever.

“Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “China is a very important market for us and customers there cannot wait to get their hands on Apple products.”

iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina® display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless technology*—all while delivering even better battery life.** iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features including: Shared Photo Streams, all-new Maps app, Passbook® organization and even more Siri® features and languages including Mandarin.

*Network speeds are dependent on carrier networks, check with your carrier for details.
**Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

Press Contacts:
Natalie Harrison
Apple
harri@apple.com
(408) 862-0565

Teresa Brewer
Apple
tbrewer@apple.com
(408) 974-6851

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Increasing Mass Gadget Heist – Concern or Publicity Stunt?

The year 2012 will be best remembered as the year with best gadget innovations as we’ve witnessed the launch of some amazing gadgets like iPhone 5, iPad Mini, Windows Surface, Google Nexus and many more. Companies like Apple, Samsung, Windows or Google are not backing out in competition and releasing their innovations with up-beat features. On the other side, we seem to remember this year as the year with most Mass Gadget Heists. Till now three major gadget heists have been confirmed by technology biggies like Apple and Samsung.

According to news reports, on a Tuesday in September just before some days of iPhone 5 store launch, a group of thieves stole $100 K worth new iPhone 5s and iPads from a Best Buy store in Murfreesboro. The theft was a financial blow to both the retailers and manufacturer. On the other side; in a report at CNET does reveal that the increasing first weekend sales figures of iPhone 5 are just a thing to boast about, but not to celebrate. Apple iPhone 5 sales are 1 million more than iPhone 4S in 2011. Some tech analysts did expect a 10 million first weekend sales of iPhone 5, which is of-course impossible. We tend to doubt whether this pre-launch theft is actually a theft or a publicity stunt to increase the popularity of the gadget just before it becomes available on stores.

This is not the single incident which makes us think or doubt these thefts, as recently Samsung confirmed theft of 1,400 new Samsung Galaxy Note II from the Malaysian airport. The whole consignment actually worth around $1 million and such huge financial theft is really a concern for copyright infringement accused Samsung. Just around one month after the theft, Samsung Galaxy Note II sales figures were touching 3 million and this figures are achieved 3X faster than the Galaxy Note I. At the same time Apple’s iPhone 5 figures were more than five million and Apple was planning its next device iPad Mini launch. Getting aggravated by varied tablet and smartphone sizes Apple released iPad Mini, which is selling beyond expected figures.

But if you see the last week’s sales report, Apple didn’t release any sales figures for iPad Mini or the new forth generation iPad 4 separately. Giving tough competition to iPad Mini, Google’s recently launched Nexus devices are enjoying good sales figures by approaching 1 million sales per month. And now the theft of 3,600 iPad Minis worth value of $1.5 million from JFK Airport, the same place where more than three decades ago $5 million cash and $900 K jewelry items were stolen. We don’t accuse anyone giving a publicity stunt to boost their sales figures rather we would like to appreciate these incidents. But what we think is that such frequent heists may raise doubt among the people and also among other competitors. Manufacturers or retailers should be more alarmed and stop these heists to avoid big financial blows.

Follow us over Twitter @Neel5 or like Business News This Week in Facebook for more updates.

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Smaller iPad Mini or Bigger iPhone 5 -What You are Choosing

Bedding all the rumors about Mini iPad 3, Apple launched its new smaller iPad, the iPad Mini on 23th October. With A5 processor and slick bedazzled design, iPad Mini is surely a strong contender before Google Nexus and Amazon Kindle Fire HD.

The iPad Mini is amazingly light, weighing around half of the 9.7 inch iPad and it’s much thinner than the original iPad. iPad Mini has a great aluminum back as in iPhone 5 and comes in both black and white. Where it lacks is the screen resolution which is not as good as iPad 3’s retinal display and quite same as iPad 2. The pixel density is 163 dpi which is almost same to the iPad 2, while the iPad 3 features a retinal display of 264 dpi. One of the eminent tech reviewers said that Apple has an innovative marketing style to feature its innovations and that’s what making its products more popular.

But approximately a month back Apple unveiled the bigger iPhone 5 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. With iPhone 5, Apple introduced some amazing features like improved Siri performance (Siri – the inbuilt voice assistant from Apple), new iOS6, double fast A6 Processor, wide retinal display and billion color pixilated views. Above all it is 15% thinner and much lighter (weighing around 3.95 ounces) than the previous version iPhones.

 iPhone 5 pre-orders are doubled as compared to iPhone 4S and already gained the necessary hype as expected by Apple. So now will iPhone 5 act as a speed breaker in the sale of iPad Mini and what the consumers will choose among these two.

As you start comparing the both, iPhone 5 does prove to be a winner with its double fast processor, retinal displays, bigger, thinner and light-weight structure. Here Apple does confuse its consumers choosing the right thing for them. One side you provide a bigger iPhone with improved features and faster performance; and on the other side you launch a smaller iPad with outdated features and poor processor speed.

We agree that iPad Mini is as much similar as an iPad, light-weight and easy to come in your palm. But it does lack speed, competitive display and much higher price than an iPhone 5. Starting with a price of $329 iPad Mini sounds less money-worthy as compared to an iPhone 5 starting at $199. iPad mini will beat other competitors like Amazon Kindle Fire or Google Nexus, but it may get attenuated before its siblings.

Check out more Apple product reviews at http://www.apple.com/

P.S: Apple once claimed that its iPhone or iPad sizes are the actual standard size of a smartphone or tablet. But later on when products like Samsung Galaxy S, Amazon Kindle and Google Nexus gained popularity, Apple did realized that it has to change its standard size specifications. That is when the concept of iPhone 5 and iPad Mini are developed.

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The Stand of Apple Products in India

Apple is the largest seller of smartphones and tablets across the world with its wide range of products and innovative features. Some of the eye catching products launched by Apple in recent days are the new iPhone 5, the new range of iPods and now the iPad Mini. Resting the rumors about iPad 3, Apple unveiled the iPad Mini, a much lighter and slicker iPad which includes all the functionality of an iPad. But what the question is how these Apple products are performing in the Indian market and how many people are really aware about its innovative features. Let’s see how it goes.

Who use Apple products in India?

1. 27 million of people in India are actually using smartphones and Samsung is the brand which most of the people prefer.
2. In India, you’ll see business emeralds, celebrities, and top dollar earners using iPhone or iPad the most. Companies like Samsung and Nokia are providing the same quality features in their smartphones at cheaper rates and that’s what making the competition tough for Apple.
3. For a Dollar economic country buying an iPhone or iPad is not a big issue. But when it comes to India, the rates became doubled and Apple products became unaffordable for a small scale earner.
4. To increase the demand, Apple India tied up with some big educational institutions, banks and technology enterprises of India. It provides iPad, iPhone and Mac at mass volume and cheaper rates.
5. Most of the outsourcing software development firms in India are using Mac, iPhone or iPad to develop competent applications.
6. Apart from these some individual mobile application developers, rich students or know-how guys use various Apple products.

iPhone or iPad - What we don’t use

We’re stressing on the iPhone and iPad, as these are people’s product. But how many people in India actually are utilizing the iPhone or iPad to the fullest. Is it worthy to buy a phone with same features as iPhone but at cheaper rates?

Siri: The voice search assistant, which search online through voice queries. Around 16 million of Smarphone users in India search for things online and all of them prefer to type and search. For now Siri is not available in India edition iPhone or iPads.

Apple Maps: After issues with Google maps, Apple came up with its own maps which are actually much impressively designed. But are these maps are completely updated with Indian geography and how many people in India are actually using these maps for navigation.

Facetime: We don’t know the detailed statistics of Facetime usage in India, but overall statistics does show people using smartphones do mostly chat over Facebook, Skype or Gtalk.

iCloud: This feature has still been un-explored by Indian iPhone users and often confused with Internet or Email programmes.

Video Calling: People prefer more like to have chat over Facebook or Gtalk.

iTunes Music: Indian version iPhones don’t come with iTunes Music store as due to the fact that Indian songs are not available at iTunes. Apple is planning to include this in the next iOS updates. Though you can download games and apps from the iTunes store.

And above all, these features are also available with phones from Samsung & Nokia and that’s too at affordable prices. Even Apple named as one of the best technology marketing brand, it does fail to impress the Indian mobile phone market. There is a proverb we say in India­­­ which spells like this “Jo Dikhta Hai Who Bikta Hai” (What ­­­You See is What They Sell) and that’s why Apple needs to bring some region specific features to attract the Indian mobile phone users.

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