India

India: no decision yet on concessions to Apple regarding iPhone manufacturing plant

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 6, 2017

A game of cat and mouse between Apple and the Indian government continues with news Monday that the government has yet to make a final decision regarding concessions being sought by Apple to set up an iPhone manufacturing plant in the country. Tribune India is reporting that Ramesh Abhishek, a secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), told the media this morning that while Apple did submit certain demands for the government's consideration, a final decision has yet to be announced.

Apple supplier Wistron to build iPhones in India

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 3, 2017

It's official: Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron will be assembling iPhones in a facility set up at Peenya on the outskirts of Bengaluru, The Times of India reported Friday. No timeline has been provided, but production is expected to begin in June. The Karnataka government issued a release yesterday in which regional IT minister Priyank Kharge welcomed Apple's proposal “to commence initial manufacturing operations” in the state.

Apple reaches Apple Music deal with Indian ride-hailing firm Ola

Cody Lee ∙ November 22, 2016

Apple is teaming up with Indian ride-hailing firm Ola to push Apple Music, reports the L.A. Times. The outlet says that the deal will result in the company's streaming music service being available as part of Ola's in-car experience.

The platform is called Ola Play, and it already has several high-profile partners including Sony, Qualcomm and Audio Compass. It gives passengers the ability to control their vehicle's climate and entertainment via an in-car tablet.

Indian government to purchase Cellebrite tech to bypass locked iPhones

Cody Lee ∙ November 4, 2016

India’s premier forensic institute The Forensic Science Laboratory is buying Cellebrite's tech that enables it to bypass locked iPhones, reports The Economic Times. The Israeli company made headlines earlier this year when it was reportedly sought out by the FBI to help it access the locked San Bernardino iPhone.

It's unclear how much the FSL is paying for the technology, or what the deal will mean for other countries and organizations. The Times, however, has a quote from an FSL source saying they believe the move will make it the global go-to place for law enforcement agencies seeking to unlock highsecurity devices.

iPhone manufacturer Foxconn planning to expand its operations in India next year

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 24, 2016

A May report from The Economic Times alleged that Apple had approached Foxconn about assembling iPhones in India in the next two to three years. The Economic Times of India confirmed Monday that Foxconn will be expanding its operations in India next year, backing its $600 million investments already made in the country.

iPhone 7 launches in India today, starts at nearly $900 due to high import taxes

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 7, 2016

As of today, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are available for purchase in India ahead of the country's gift-giving season. As CNBC reported, the new handsets cost more than the average Indian citizen earns in six months due to local import taxes which jack up retail price of the entry-level $649 32GB iPhone 7 to as high as $900, or a whopping $1.382 for the flagship 256GB iPhone 7 Plus model.

India’s finance minister ratifies a proposal that’d let Apple run retail stores in the country

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 10, 2016

Apple is one step closer to opening first-party retail stores in India, its increasingly significant market with population of 1.3 billion people, with a new Bloomberg report claiming that India’s finance minister Arun Jaitley has approved a proposal that clarifies how Apple could open retail stores without initially having to source components locally.

Last month, the cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a three-year extension on local-sourcing rules that require foreign firms wanting to run their own local retail stores to source at least 30 percent of components within the populous country.

Apple leases 40,000 square feet of office space in India for iOS app design accelerator

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Apple CEO Tim Cook during his May 2016 India trip announced that his company will be opening an iOS app design and development accelerator in the country early next year. Today, The Economic Times reported that the Cupertino firm has reached an agreement to lease 40,000 square feet of office space, spread over two floors at Galleria in North Bengaluru, to house the facility.

Indian government intervenes to allow Apple Stores in the country

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 21, 2016

After repeated delays, Apple may finally get the chance to open company-run retail stores in India as the cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly approved a three-year extension on local-sourcing rules that require foreign companies operating their own retail stores to manufacture at least thirty percent of goods in the country.

Google wants to beat Apple to attracting India’s developer talent

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 11, 2016

Apple is opening a new facility in India early next year, aimed at improving the skills and success of Indian developers building iOS applications, and now Google hopes to do the same for Android. In introducing a new initiative this morning, called Android Skilling, Google hopes to beat Apple to attracting India's developer talent to Android.

India relaxes rules on foreign direct investments, paving the way for Apple Stores

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 20, 2016

The government of India has relaxed its strict rules on foreign direct investments, which stipulate that 30 percent of goods sold by foreign companies must be manufactured or produced within India, paving the way for Apple's retail expansion in the 1.25 billion people market. Acording to The Times of India on Monday, Apple should benefit from a new three-year relaxation on local sourcing norms.

Indian government formally rejects Apple’s plan to sell used iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 30, 2016

The government of India has said 'no' to Apple's request to import used iPhones into the country, LiveMint reported today. The move comes hot on the heels of the finance ministry's decision to rejecte a recommendation from the commerce ministry to waive the 30 percent local sourcing norm for Apple to sell refurbished iPhones in its own branded stores in India.

“We are not in favour of any company selling used phones in the company, however certified they may be,” said commerce and industry minister, Nirmala Sitharaman.