Apple Sells Out of Meager iPhone 5 Launch Stocks in India

MacRumors · Nov 6, 2012, 08:41 AM

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has sold through its initial stocks of the iPhone 5 in India following the device's launch there on Friday, but the company was said to have delivered only 10,000-15,000 units for the first wave of sales.

Quote:

"We were sold out within 24 hours of launch. It's all gone," said Himanshu Chakrawarti, chief executive of The MobileStore Ltd., a retailer that stocks iPhones and which has 900 outlets across India. Apple Inc.'s latest iPhone officially launched in India on Friday, more than a month after it hit major markets elsewhere.

Analysts are expecting Apple to deliver roughly 100,000 iPhone 5 units to India in the first month of availability, jumping to 200,000 by the end of the year.

While those shipment numbers pale in comparison to those seen other populous countries, they do represent a substantial jump over the 50,000 units sent to India in the June quarter, a boost due not only to the introduction of the new hardware but also improved distribution.

(Thanks, Rounak!)

Article Link: Apple Sells Out of Meager iPhone 5 Launch Stocks in India

akbarali.ch · Nov 6, 2012, 09:14 AM

Surprise!

coder12 · Nov 6, 2012, 09:16 AM

Woah, that's a short supply. Are they hoping everybody ordered online, or are they just that low in stock?

MonkeySee.... · Nov 6, 2012, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coder12

Woah, that's a short supply. Are they hoping everybody ordered online, or are they just that low in stock?

Maybe they're just being cautious?

KdParker · Nov 8, 2012, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coder12

Woah, that's a short supply. Are they hoping everybody ordered online, or are they just that low in stock?

I agree. that is ridiculously low for such a large population.

Ramchi · Nov 6, 2012, 09:18 AM

All supplies are sold out. There are no iPhones for sale in any shops. I purchased 64 GB for $ 1100 and it was very few and rare here.

----------

I watched a guy purchasing 16 GB 100 numbers! I mean the demand is insane!

justperry · Nov 6, 2012, 09:19 AM

So essentially that means 1 out of 100.000 people got their hands on one.

mankar4 · Nov 6, 2012, 09:31 AM

Why no love for India?

M-O · Nov 6, 2012, 10:04 AM

there seems to be a few zeros missing...

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by justperry

So essentially that means 1 out of 100.000 people got their hands on one.

that will do wonders for the resale value.

nickn · Nov 6, 2012, 10:50 AM

There are over 1.2 billion people in India, but Apple is planning on sending only handsets 200,000 for the entire year? I guess Indians really hate iOS...

macnerd93 · Nov 7, 2012, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mankar4

Why no love for India?

Most likely low stock numbers in comparison to other countries, simply because an iPhone to the majority of people in India would be extremely out of reach. Its something to cater towards the wealthy.

Worf · Nov 6, 2012, 12:43 PM

The ignorance here is astounding. While these numbers are not great compared to sales of more developed countries, the sell-out here of is indicative of a growing opportunity for Apple in Asian countries. Many in India still use Nokia Phones based off the Symbian operating system but now that Symbian has been shuttered, Apple has an opportunity to come in and steal customers who are looking for more advanced smartphones. This is a good sign of progress for Apple in India and sales are likely to increase in the coming years as India grows.

Chuck-Norris · Nov 6, 2012, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worf

The ignorance here is astounding. While these numbers are not great compared to sales of more developed countries, the sell-out here of is indicative of a growing opportunity for Apple in Asian countries. Many in India still use Nokia Phones based off the Symbian operating system but now that Symbian has been shuttered, Apple has an opportunity to come in and steal customers who are looking for more advanced smartphones. This is a good sign of progress for Apple in India and sales are likely to increase in the coming years as India grows.

yeah but its negligible

Gemütlichkeit · Nov 6, 2012, 03:52 PM

largest population on the planet but what % of that population can actually afford an iphone?

rak007 · Nov 6, 2012, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemütlichkeit

largest population on the planet but what % of that population can actually afford an iphone?

As someone mentioned the price in US is 200$ with contact while in India there is no contract system so people have to always shell out full price for the phone which is substantially higher than the US Unlocked price. This is the first hurdle.
Also being a very populous country does not mean everyone is rich. Even a salary of 1000$ a month is considered very very good in India. The reason being the price of commodities and services. In US one pays 100$ for electricity per month while in India the bill hardly crosses 20$.
The comparison of population and ability to afford is irrelevant.
Btw Samsung is dominant in India with S3 and Note 2 selling left right and center across India.

MacCurry · Nov 7, 2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemütlichkeit

largest population on the planet but what % of that population can actually afford an iphone?

There are 27 million smart phone users in India growing rapidly. The problem with Apple is that there is no dedicated iTunes store for India. So content is limited especially when India is so wealthy in much of its own music, movies and literature.

Apple can ignore India for now, but risks getting shut out down the road when Samsung is already dominating.

hrishidev · Nov 7, 2012, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacCurry

There are 27 million smart phone users in India growing rapidly. The problem with Apple is that there is no dedicated iTunes store for India. So content is limited especially when India is so wealthy in much of its own music, movies and literature.

Apple can ignore India for now, but risks getting shut out down the road when Samsung is already dominating.

Yeah , If Apple takes India seriously , content from 25 language will be digitally available. Win-win situation for artists as well as for Apple

princetanha · Nov 6, 2012, 02:55 PM

Apple just dont care about non-US or non-europ customers ! Samsung got a really good suppliers here in middle east and Samsung phones sells like a charm &they release them here before even US , and the apple iphone 5 wich was released in Sep is not here yet (what a shame ) everyone here got a note 2 now ! Its everywhere ..

AppleWarMachine · Nov 7, 2012, 10:48 AM

Apple just likes to have the headline of being "sold out"....here's 100 phones, all bought, sold out, Yes!

new products being unavailable by weeks at a time

Nov 6, 2012, 09:14 AM	#2
akbarali.ch macrumors regular Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mumbai (India)	Surprise! __________________ iMac 21.5" i5 2.9GHz 2012; iphone 4S 16GB white; iPhone 3GS 16GB; iPhone 3GS 8GB
	1

Nov 6, 2012, 09:16 AM	#3
coder12 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Fargo, ND: The greatest city on Earth.	Woah, that's a short supply. Are they hoping everybody ordered online, or are they just that low in stock? __________________ Go Bison!
	1

Nov 6, 2012, 09:18 AM	#6
Ramchi macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: India	Lots of hoarding! All supplies are sold out. There are no iPhones for sale in any shops. I purchased 64 GB for $ 1100 and it was very few and rare here. ---------- I watched a guy purchasing 16 GB 100 numbers! I mean the demand is insane!
	0

Nov 6, 2012, 12:43 PM	#12
Worf macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2010	The ignorance here is astounding. While these numbers are not great compared to sales of more developed countries, the sell-out here of is indicative of a growing opportunity for Apple in Asian countries. Many in India still use Nokia Phones based off the Symbian operating system but now that Symbian has been shuttered, Apple has an opportunity to come in and steal customers who are looking for more advanced smartphones. This is a good sign of progress for Apple in India and sales are likely to increase in the coming years as India grows. __________________ iPhone 4S iPad Mini How to decide whether to buy into Android or iOS - Here
	1

Nov 6, 2012, 03:52 PM	#14
Gemütlichkeit macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2010	largest population on the planet but what % of that population can actually afford an iphone? __________________ "It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God." -Thomas Jefferson
	0

Nov 6, 2012, 09:19 AM	#7
justperry macrumors 603 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: 7 Km South of an active upside down volcano.	So essentially that means 1 out of 100.000 people got their hands on one.
	0

Nov 6, 2012, 09:31 AM	#8
mankar4 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: USA	Why no love for India?
	1

Nov 6, 2012, 10:50 AM	#10
nickn macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2011	There are over 1.2 billion people in India, but Apple is planning on sending only handsets 200,000 for the entire year? I guess Indians really hate iOS...
	0

Nov 6, 2012, 02:55 PM	#18
princetanha macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2012	Apple just dont care about non-US or non-europ customers ! Samsung got a really good suppliers here in middle east and Samsung phones sells like a charm &they release them here before even US , and the apple iphone 5 wich was released in Sep is not here yet (what a shame ) everyone here got a note 2 now ! Its everywhere ..
	0

Nov 7, 2012, 10:48 AM	#19
AppleWarMachine macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Michigan, US	Apple just likes to have the headline of being "sold out"....here's 100 phones, all bought, sold out, Yes! new products being unavailable by weeks at a time __________________ -Mike 2009 27" iMac, 2.8 i7, 16GB ; iPad 4 32GB ; iPhone 4S 32GB ; Apple TV 3rd Gen
	1


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