Following years of preparations and lots of back and forth between Apple and the Indian government, the Cupertino compay today expectedly launched its official online retail store in India, home to a population of almost 1.44 billion people.
This is an important development as the iPhone maker used to rely on a network of local resellers and service providers to cater to its Indian customers. With the Indian online Apple store now operational, local customers now have a single online destination to access Apple’s full range of products and support for the first time.
The store is available at apple.com/in/.
“The new online store will provide customers with the same premium experience found in Apple store locations around the world, delivered by online team members who are ready to offer their expertise,” Apple wrote in its press release last week announcing the store’s impending launch.
Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail + People:
We’re proud to be expanding in India and want to do all we can to support our customers and their communities. We know our users are relying on technology to stay connected, engage in learning and tap into their creativity, and by bringing the Apple Store online to India, we are offering our customers the very best of Apple at this important time.
Folks can get advice from online Apple Specialists with anything ranging from custom-configuring any Mac to setting up new devices. Customers can receive guidance and learn about new products directly from Apple, both in English and Hindi.
Other Apple offerings are available via the store, too, like financing options, trade-in programs, education pricing, signature gift wrap and personalized engraving (in time for the festive season in India), plus free online Today at Apple sessions led by local Creative Pros, focused on photography and music (coming in October).
According to Apple, engraving of emoji or text in English, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu is available for the AirPods. English engraving will be available for the iPad and Apple Pencil.
All orders from the online store ship with contactless delivery. Orders that don’t require a signature will be left at the customer’s door. Other orders will need only a verbal confirmation from a safe distance instead of a written signature.
Apple has been operating in India for more than 20 years now.