The Apple iPhone 15 series is set to go on sale in India today. This launch is significant as it's the first time 'Made in India' iPhones are available on the global release day. The 'Made in India' iPhones will be available through Apple's official online platform and its branded retail stores.

Apple's iPhone 15 sale in India starts with a bang | Buyers queue at Apple stores

It seems South Asia and Latin America are the new Trump cards for tech giant Apple, while China and the West continue to slow down. Apple CEO Tim Cook is betting that these markets will provide more opportunities due to their youthful populations and relatively few iPhones.

Apple expansion: Sour taste for competition?

Tech giant Apple's India sales grew by 50% in the year through March, the media reports said on Monday. It's revenue in India almost touched $6 billion in March of 2023 compared to $4.1 billion in the same period last year.

Apple gets a shot in the arm in India, hits $6bn in sales

Apple has bet big on India since it began iPhone assembly in the country in 2017. Apple is now planning to further boost the iPhone production in the country especially as the company has accelerated plans to shift some of its iPhone production outside of China. In India apple is said to have significantly increased its production of iPhones in India according to a report the company now amounts accounts for almost seven percent of its total iPhone production, this is up from one percent in 2021. In other words in the last fiscal year the company assembled iPhones worth more than seven billion dollars in India analysts believe Apple could make 25 of the iPhones in India by 2025. Now India is increasingly becoming a manufacturing base for Apple and some Apple products are already assembled in the country.

Apple ramps up iPhone production in India to meet growing demand

Apple has confirmed plans to open its first massive office space in India's Bengaluru city. Apple products have been sold in India for years on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart and through resellers.

Apple's massive office to come up in Bengaluru city

Apple Inc's Taiwanese supplier Pegatron Corp is planning to open its second manufacturing unit in India for which it will pump in $150 million, reports indicated this weekend. The talks are ongoing between relevant stakeholders, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter were quoted as saying by Reuters.

ALSO READ -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/apples-management-shake-up-reflects-its-focus-on-india-570188">Apple's management shake-up reflects its focus on India</a>

Pegatron plans to add a second facility near Chennai, just six months after opening the first with an investment of $150 million, Reuters reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Apple's shift to India: Why is it important?</h2>

The shift is important amid iPhone maker's partners' ongoing efforts to diversify production away from China.

Apple and its key suppliers have been shifting production away from China as they seek to avoid a potential hit to business due to much-reported US-China trade war amid mounting geopolitical competition between world's top two economies. In recent years, Pegatron has sought to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia and North America.

According to the report, India is seen as the next growth frontier for Apple.&nbsp;

The new manufacturing unit will operate "to assemble the latest iPhones".

ALSO WATCH -&nbsp;Apple's iPhone exports from India surpass $2.5 billion

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According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association, around $9 billion worth of smartphones have been exported from India between April 2022 and February this year, and iPhones accounted for more than 50 per cent of them.

<h2>Apple's India focus: Potential location of&nbsp;second manufacturing unit of Apple supplier</h2>

The talks for starting a second Pegatron facility on lease are ongoing and it will be located inside Mahindra World City near Chennai, just around where the company inaugurated the first plant in September 2022, the report said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

Apple Inc's Taiwanese supplier Pegatron Corp is planning to open its second manufacturing unit in India for which it will pump in $150 million, reports indicated this weekend.

Apple Inc's Taiwanese supplier Pegatron Corp is planning to open its second manufacturing unit in India for which it will pump in $150 million, reports indicated this weekend. The talks are ongoing between relevant stakeholders, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter were quoted as saying by Reuters. ALSO READ - Apple's management shake-up reflects its focus on India Pegatron plans to add a second facility near Chennai, just six months after opening the first with an investment of $150 million, Reuters reported. Apple's shift to India: Why is it important? The shift is important amid iPhone maker's partners' ongoing efforts to diversify production away from China. Apple and its key suppliers have been shifting production away from China as they seek to avoid a potential hit to business due to much-reported US-China trade war amid mounting geopolitical competition between world's top two economies. In recent years, Pegatron has sought to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia and North America. According to the report, India is seen as the next growth frontier for Apple. The new manufacturing unit will operate "to assemble the latest iPhones". ALSO WATCH - Apple's iPhone exports from India surpass $2.5 billion × According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association, around $9 billion worth of smartphones have been exported from India between April 2022 and February this year, and iPhones accounted for more than 50 per cent of them. Apple's India focus: Potential location of second manufacturing unit of Apple supplier The talks for starting a second Pegatron facility on lease are ongoing and it will be located inside Mahindra World City near Chennai, just around where the company inaugurated the first plant in September 2022, the report said. (With inputs from Reuters)

Apple supplier Pegatron veers away from China, in talks to open second unit in India

Apple one of the most valuable Brands globally, some of the key employees are leaving Apple. You would be surprised to know that over the last few months Apple has lost about a dozen high-ranking executives, many of them were responsible for day-to-day core functions. Most of the outgoing executives carried the ranks of vice presidents and were just below the senior vice president rank that reports to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Why are so many apple executives leaving?

A number of Chinese suppliers of Apple Inc. received initial clearance by Indian government to expand in the country, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The Chinese suppliers, however, will require to find local Indian joint venture partners as per manufacturing rules put in place by New Delhi. While India is reportedly approving multiple Chinese suppliers, many were rejected, the report said.

Apple submitted a list of about 17 suppliers to Indian authorities, and a few of them were turned down, at least one because of direct ties to the Chinese government, one of the people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-soon-gets-its-home-grown-iphone-as-tata-group-nears-takeover-says-source-551539">India to get its first homegrown iPhone maker as Tata Group nears takeover</a>

The clearance by New Delhi for Chinese suppliers along with home-grown venture partners will help Apple to diversify its manufacturing base away from China.

Who all have received clearance?

AirPods and iPhone assembler Guangdong-based Luxshare Precision Industry Co. and a unit of Ningbo, China-based Sunny Optical Technology Group Co. are among the companies gaining approval, people familiar with the matter were quoted as saying by Bloomberg.&nbsp;

About 14 suppliers are receiving approval from India, after Apple named them as companies whose services it needs to increase its presence in India, Bloomberg further quoted the people as saying.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/apples-iphone-exports-from-india-surpass-25-billion-550917">Apple's iPhone exports from India surpass $2.5 billion</a>

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While the vast majority of Apple products are still assembled in China, the company has in recent years started making more of them in India through Taiwanese partners.

Apple and other US electronics brands are seeking to reduce their reliance on China after trade restrictions and Covid-related production disruptions exposed the risks of dependence on the country.&nbsp;

What does it mean?

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his second term has focused on growing India's manufacturing sector, providing Production Linked Incentives to mass manufacturers establishing their base in India.

Mumbai-based Tea to airplane conglomerate Tata Group, already provide Apple with parts, and India is pushing to add more local providers into the supply chain to boost and diversify its electronics industry.&nbsp;

India has cut off Chinese companies from its smartphone economy after violent clash between two countries' troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in northernmost India's eastern Ladakh in June 2020.

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A number of Chinese suppliers of Apple Inc. received initial clearance by Indian government to expand in the country, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

A number of Chinese suppliers of Apple Inc. received initial clearance by Indian government to expand in the country, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The Chinese suppliers, however, will require to find local Indian joint venture partners as per manufacturing rules put in place by New Delhi. While India is reportedly approving multiple Chinese suppliers, many were rejected, the report said. Apple submitted a list of about 17 suppliers to Indian authorities, and a few of them were turned down, at least one because of direct ties to the Chinese government, one of the people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. ALSO READ | India to get its first homegrown iPhone maker as Tata Group nears takeover The clearance by New Delhi for Chinese suppliers along with home-grown venture partners will help Apple to diversify its manufacturing base away from China. Who all have received clearance? AirPods and iPhone assembler Guangdong-based Luxshare Precision Industry Co. and a unit of Ningbo, China-based Sunny Optical Technology Group Co. are among the companies gaining approval, people familiar with the matter were quoted as saying by Bloomberg. About 14 suppliers are receiving approval from India, after Apple named them as companies whose services it needs to increase its presence in India, Bloomberg further quoted the people as saying. ALSO WATCH | Apple's iPhone exports from India surpass $2.5 billion × While the vast majority of Apple products are still assembled in China, the company has in recent years started making more of them in India through Taiwanese partners. Apple and other US electronics brands are seeking to reduce their reliance on China after trade restrictions and Covid-related production disruptions exposed the risks of dependence on the country. What does it mean? India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his second term has focused on growing India's manufacturing sector, providing Production Linked Incentives to mass manufacturers establishing their base in India. Mumbai-based Tea to airplane conglomerate Tata Group, already provide Apple with parts, and India is pushing to add more local providers into the supply chain to boost and diversify its electronics industry. India has cut off Chinese companies from its smartphone economy after violent clash between two countries' troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in northernmost India's eastern Ladakh in June 2020. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Apple to bring Chinese suppliers to boost production in India

Apple Inc has put out job listings for store leaders, market leaders, and managers for 'Apple Retail' in India, with some positions already filled in.

World Business Watch: Apple starts hiring for retails stores across India

Battered by Xi Jinping’s anti-Covid policy, Apple is looking to boost production outside China, reports said, adding that India and Vietnam are being seriously looked at for potential alternatives.

Over 90 per cent of Apple products like iPhones, iPads and MacBook laptops are manufactured in China by outside contractors.

With Apple’s being exposed to potential manufacturing snags due to China’s zero-Covid police, the tech behemoth is already in talks with some of its contract manufacturers to look for alternatives, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people involved in the discussion.

Nikkei Asia reported that the lockdowns in Shanghai and Kunshan have forced Apple to halt production at three suppliers, which could have a much more significant impact – especially the Pegatron shutdown.

Pegatron, which roughly makes 20 to 30 per cent of all iPhones, had said in April that operations at its two production sites in Shanghai and Kunshan have been suspended to comply with government regulations.

Similarly, MacBook maker Quanta and iPad assembler Compal are the two other suppliers who also had to shut to comply with the Covid guidelines.

In Shanghai, 31&nbsp;companies&nbsp;run production facilities that supply to Apple.

Moreover, the Shanghai lockdown made a huge dent in Apple’s revenue for the April-June quarter as the company has indicated up to $8 billion loss in sales.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/apple-products-to-get-delayed-as-foxconn-stops-ops-amidst-chinas-worst-covid-outbreak-462120">Apple products to get delayed as Foxconn stops ops amidst China’s worst Covid outbreak</a>

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an earnings call that "we have estimated the constraints to be in the range of $4 to $8 billion and these constraints are primarily centred around the Shanghai&nbsp;corridor".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/apple-sees-bigger-supply-problems-after-strong-start-to-year-474828">Apple sees bigger supply problems after strong start to year</a>

"The Covid-related disruptions are also having some impact on customer demand in China," added Apple CFO Luca Maestri.

So far, Apple's biggest supplier Foxconn has kept production going at its biggest iPhone-assembly plant in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Battered by Xi Jinping’s anti-Covid policy, Apple is looking to boost production outside China, reports said, adding that India and Vietnam are being seriously looked at for potential alternatives.

Battered by Xi Jinping’s anti-Covid policy, Apple is looking to boost production outside China, reports said, adding that India and Vietnam are being seriously looked at for potential alternatives. Over 90 per cent of Apple products like iPhones, iPads and MacBook laptops are manufactured in China by outside contractors. With Apple’s being exposed to potential manufacturing snags due to China’s zero-Covid police, the tech behemoth is already in talks with some of its contract manufacturers to look for alternatives, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people involved in the discussion. Nikkei Asia reported that the lockdowns in Shanghai and Kunshan have forced Apple to halt production at three suppliers, which could have a much more significant impact – especially the Pegatron shutdown. Pegatron, which roughly makes 20 to 30 per cent of all iPhones, had said in April that operations at its two production sites in Shanghai and Kunshan have been suspended to comply with government regulations. Similarly, MacBook maker Quanta and iPad assembler Compal are the two other suppliers who also had to shut to comply with the Covid guidelines. In Shanghai, 31 companies run production facilities that supply to Apple. Moreover, the Shanghai lockdown made a huge dent in Apple’s revenue for the April-June quarter as the company has indicated up to $8 billion loss in sales. Also read | Apple products to get delayed as Foxconn stops ops amidst China’s worst Covid outbreak Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an earnings call that "we have estimated the constraints to be in the range of $4 to $8 billion and these constraints are primarily centred around the Shanghai corridor". Also read | Apple sees bigger supply problems after strong start to year "The Covid-related disruptions are also having some impact on customer demand in China," added Apple CFO Luca Maestri. So far, Apple's biggest supplier Foxconn has kept production going at its biggest iPhone-assembly plant in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Apple looks to boost production outside China; India, Vietnam emerging viable alternatives: Report

Apple supplier Wistron`s Indian factory in Karnataka state could not cope up with the rapid scaling up of manpower and breached several laws, a government inspection has revealed following violence at the site last weekend.

Several thousand contract workers at Wistron angered over alleged non-payment of wages destroyed property, factory gear and iPhones at the plant early on Dec. 12, causing millions of dollars in losses to the Taiwanese contract manufacturer and forcing it to shut the plant.

The manpower at this plant, which assembles one iPhone model and became operational earlier this year, rose to 10,500 workers from the permitted 5,000 in a short span of time, according to a Karnataka factories department report, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters.

"Though 10,500 workers are employed in the factory the HR department has not been adequately set up with personnel of sound knowledge of labour laws," said the report of the inspection conducted on Dec. 13.

The report said there is a wide gap between practices followed at the factory and legal requirements.

Wistron did not respond to a request for comment.

Apple, which is conducting it`s own audit at the factory, also did not comment.

Wistron introduced 12-hour shifts from the earlier eight-hour shifts at the plant in October but failed to properly address "the confusion in the minds of the workers" about their new wages inclusive of overtime, the report noted.

The company also did not inform the factories department of the new work shifts, it said.

Wistron, which also changed its attendance system in October, did not fix for two months a glitch which caused employees` presence to be incorrectly registered, the probe found.

Some other violations highlighted in the report included underpayment of wages to contract workers and housekeeping staff, and making women staff work overtime without legal authorisation.

An earlier government audit of the factory, just hours after the rampage, had also found "several labour law violations", Reuters previously reported.

Karnataka state, home to India`s showpiece software services sector and global firms such as Bosh and Volvo, has previously tried to soothe investors by condemning the violence and assuring Wistron of its support.

"The company has started an internal audit, which should help it improve systems," said Gaurav Gupta, the top government official at Karnataka`s Industries Department.

"We expect it will bring up solutions to improve relationships with workers and pave the way for starting operations soon."

Apple supplier Wistron`s Indian factory in Karnataka state could not cope up with the rapid scaling up of manpower and breached several laws, a government inspection has revealed following violence at the site last weekend.

Apple supplier Wistron`s Indian factory in Karnataka state could not cope up with the rapid scaling up of manpower and breached several laws, a government inspection has revealed following violence at the site last weekend. Several thousand contract workers at Wistron angered over alleged non-payment of wages destroyed property, factory gear and iPhones at the plant early on Dec. 12, causing millions of dollars in losses to the Taiwanese contract manufacturer and forcing it to shut the plant. The manpower at this plant, which assembles one iPhone model and became operational earlier this year, rose to 10,500 workers from the permitted 5,000 in a short span of time, according to a Karnataka factories department report, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters. "Though 10,500 workers are employed in the factory the HR department has not been adequately set up with personnel of sound knowledge of labour laws," said the report of the inspection conducted on Dec. 13. The report said there is a wide gap between practices followed at the factory and legal requirements. Wistron did not respond to a request for comment. Apple, which is conducting it`s own audit at the factory, also did not comment. Wistron introduced 12-hour shifts from the earlier eight-hour shifts at the plant in October but failed to properly address "the confusion in the minds of the workers" about their new wages inclusive of overtime, the report noted. The company also did not inform the factories department of the new work shifts, it said. Wistron, which also changed its attendance system in October, did not fix for two months a glitch which caused employees` presence to be incorrectly registered, the probe found. Some other violations highlighted in the report included underpayment of wages to contract workers and housekeeping staff, and making women staff work overtime without legal authorisation. An earlier government audit of the factory, just hours after the rampage, had also found "several labour law violations", Reuters previously reported. Karnataka state, home to India`s showpiece software services sector and global firms such as Bosh and Volvo, has previously tried to soothe investors by condemning the violence and assuring Wistron of its support. "The company has started an internal audit, which should help it improve systems," said Gaurav Gupta, the top government official at Karnataka`s Industries Department. "We expect it will bring up solutions to improve relationships with workers and pave the way for starting operations soon."

Apple supplier Wistron couldn't manage scaled up India plant, govt report says

Three of Apple Inc's top contract manufacturers plan to invest a total of almost $900 million in India in the next five years to tap into a new production-linked incentive plan, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Three top Apple suppliers plan to commit $900 million to India smartphone incentive plan

India has offered to allow Apple&nbsp;to import mobile handset components intended for use in local manufacturing tax free, a top government official said on Tuesday.

The tax concessions will be subject to the condition of increasing local value addition over a period of time.

Apple wants to expand its contract manufacturer&nbsp;facility in the Indian tech hub of Bengaluru, Ravi Shankar Prasad, the union minister for Electronics and IT, said on Tuesday, as the iPhone maker seeks a larger share in one of the world&#39;s biggest smartphone markets.

Apple last week started making iPhone SE at its Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron&#39;s plant in Bengaluru.

The company, which sold over 50 million iPhones in the March quarter, down 1 per cent year-on-year, is looking for new markets as its sales in China have weakened.

Among a set of tax concessions, Apple had initially sought a 15-years tax holiday for all components that it would import for setting up a manufacturing facility in India.

A panel of ministries rejected that demand and has offered a phased programme to increase the share of local production in the manufacturing, Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and IT said.

&quot;We have offered them tax exemptions on those components which could not be manufactured in India,&quot; Sundararajan told Reuters, adding that local manufacturing component would have to be increased gradually.

Apple has agreed to increase local share in production over a period of time, but there was a difference between the plans of the two sides, she said.

Apple was not immediately available for comment.

India wants Apple to raise value addition share in phases of 3,5,7 and 10 years as local capacity builds up, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s plans to boost manufacturing.

Industry estimates the phased manufacturing programme could increase local value addition in mobile phones manufacturing to 40-50 per cent in the next three years.

Earlier, Ravi Shankar Prasad said government officials were in touch with Apple and other mobile phone manufacturers about expanding facilities and setting up new plants.

&quot;It will be a little early to say that India and Apple have agreed on the common ground,&quot; said the official, adding India was ready to work out a roadmap to encourage manufacturing.

Industry estimates total value of mobile phones produced in India touched Rs 900 billion&nbsp;($13.9&nbsp;billion) compared with Rs 540 billion&nbsp;in the previous year.

&quot;We are waiting for Apple to come back,&quot; said Sundararajan.

(Reuters)

Apple can now import mobile handset components tax free for local manufacturing

India has offered to allow Apple to import mobile handset components intended for use in local manufacturing tax free, a top government official said on Tuesday. The tax concessions will be subject to the condition of increasing local value addition over a period of time. Apple wants to expand its contract manufacturer facility in the Indian tech hub of Bengaluru, Ravi Shankar Prasad, the union minister for Electronics and IT, said on Tuesday, as the iPhone maker seeks a larger share in one of the world's biggest smartphone markets. Apple last week started making iPhone SE at its Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron's plant in Bengaluru. The company, which sold over 50 million iPhones in the March quarter, down 1 per cent year-on-year, is looking for new markets as its sales in China have weakened. Among a set of tax concessions, Apple had initially sought a 15-years tax holiday for all components that it would import for setting up a manufacturing facility in India. A panel of ministries rejected that demand and has offered a phased programme to increase the share of local production in the manufacturing, Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and IT said. "We have offered them tax exemptions on those components which could not be manufactured in India," Sundararajan told Reuters, adding that local manufacturing component would have to be increased gradually. Apple has agreed to increase local share in production over a period of time, but there was a difference between the plans of the two sides, she said. Apple was not immediately available for comment. India wants Apple to raise value addition share in phases of 3,5,7 and 10 years as local capacity builds up, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plans to boost manufacturing. Industry estimates the phased manufacturing programme could increase local value addition in mobile phones manufacturing to 40-50 per cent in the next three years. Earlier, Ravi Shankar Prasad said government officials were in touch with Apple and other mobile phone manufacturers about expanding facilities and setting up new plants. "It will be a little early to say that India and Apple have agreed on the common ground," said the official, adding India was ready to work out a roadmap to encourage manufacturing. Industry estimates total value of mobile phones produced in India touched Rs 900 billion ($13.9 billion) compared with Rs 540 billion in the previous year. "We are waiting for Apple to come back," said Sundararajan. (Reuters)

India offers tax concessions to Apple to expand production

Apple has begun assembling its low-priced iPhone SE at its contract manufacturer&#39;s plant in the technology hub of Bengaluru, the company said in a statement.

Cupertino, California-based Apple, is keen to boost its market share in one of the world&#39;s fastest growing mobile phone markets as sales lag in Asian powerhouse China.

&quot;We are beginning initial production of a small number of iPhone SE in Bengaluru,&quot; Apple said in the statement, adding the phone would be available locally for sale this month.

In February, Reuters reported that Apple&#39;s Taiwanese manufacturing partner Wistron Corp will assemble the iPhone SE in India by April-end or beginning of May.

(Reuters)

Apple is keen to boost its market share in one of the world's fastest growing mobile phone markets

Apple has begun assembling its low-priced iPhone SE at its contract manufacturer's plant in the technology hub of Bengaluru, the company said in a statement. Cupertino, California-based Apple, is keen to boost its market share in one of the world's fastest growing mobile phone markets as sales lag in Asian powerhouse China. "We are beginning initial production of a small number of iPhone SE in Bengaluru," Apple said in the statement, adding the phone would be available locally for sale this month. In February, Reuters reported that Apple's Taiwanese manufacturing partner Wistron Corp will assemble the iPhone SE in India by April-end or beginning of May. (Reuters)

Apple begins assembling iPhone SE in Bengaluru plant

Acknowledging that Apple is &quot;underpenetrated&quot; in India, CEO Tim Cook has said the US tech giant is strengthening its local presence in the country and is optimistic about its future given the fast-growing economy and improving 4G network infrastructure in the country.

&quot;We set a new March quarter record for India, where revenue grew by strong double digits. We continue to strengthen our local presence across the entire ecosystem, and we&#39;re very optimistic about our future in this remarkable country with its very large, young, and tech-savvy population, fast-growing economy, and improving 4G network infrastructure,&quot; Cook said in the second quarter results earnings call yesterday.

Cook was asked that the California-based company is underpenetrated in India and whether the company will need to work with the country&#39;s government to have Apple-owned stores or production given the great opportunity in the country.

&quot;We think it&#39;s a great opportunity too, and so we&#39;re bringing all the things that we brought to bear in other markets that we&#39;ve eventually done well in, and that&#39;s from channel to stores to our ecosystem and so forth,&rdquo; Cook said.

Apple&rsquo;s senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller was in India opening a developer centre last quarter. 
&quot;And so there are a ton of things going on there (India). And we agree that we are underpenetrated there. Our growth rates are good, really good by most people&#39;s expectations, maybe not mine as much,&rdquo; Cook said.

He said the iPhone maker is putting a &quot;lot of energy&quot; in India, just like Apple has in other geographies that eventually wound up producing more. &quot;So I&#39;m very excited about it,&rdquo; he said.

Cook emphasised that the 4G network investment began rolling in in a significant way toward the last quarter of last year in India, which is the third largest smartphone market in the world today behind China and the US.

&quot;But they are moving fast. They&#39;re moving at a speed that I have not seen in any other country in the world once they were started, and it is truly impressive,&rdquo; he said.

Apple has been &quot;investing quite a bit&quot; in India and has a &quot;ton of energy&quot; going into the country on a number of fronts. 
Cook sounded a bullish tone for the future of Apple in India as the 4G network infrastructure grows in the country.

&quot;And so we believe, particularly now that the 4G infrastructure is going in the country and is continuing to be expanded, that there is a huge opportunity for Apple there. And so that and the demographics of the country is why we&#39;re putting so much energy there,&quot; he said.

Apple&rsquo;s senior vice president and chief financial officer Luca Maestri said the company achieved double-digit growth in the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, Russia and Mexico.

Apple&rsquo;s growth rates were even higher, over 20 per cent in many other markets, including Brazil, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, India, Korea and Thailand,?Maestri?said.

Apple posted revenue of $52.9 billion for its fiscal 2017 second quarter ended April 1, 2017, up from $50.6 billion in the year-ago quarter.

International sales accounted for 65 per cent of the quarter&rsquo;s revenue. It reported net income of $11 billion for the second quarter as compared to $10 billion a year ago.

The company said that the number of iPhones sold globally fell 1 per cent in the first calendar quarter, compared with the same period a year ago.

It sold 50.76 million iPhones in its fiscal second quarter ended April 1, down from 51.19 million a year earlier.

(PTI)

Apple is strengthening its local presence in India

Acknowledging that Apple is "underpenetrated" in India, CEO Tim Cook has said the US tech giant is strengthening its local presence in the country and is optimistic about its future given the fast-growing economy and improving 4G network infrastructure in the country. "We set a new March quarter record for India, where revenue grew by strong double digits. We continue to strengthen our local presence across the entire ecosystem, and we're very optimistic about our future in this remarkable country with its very large, young, and tech-savvy population, fast-growing economy, and improving 4G network infrastructure," Cook said in the second quarter results earnings call yesterday. Cook was asked that the California-based company is underpenetrated in India and whether the company will need to work with the country's government to have Apple-owned stores or production given the great opportunity in the country. "We think it's a great opportunity too, and so we're bringing all the things that we brought to bear in other markets that we've eventually done well in, and that's from channel to stores to our ecosystem and so forth,” Cook said. Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller was in India opening a developer centre last quarter. "And so there are a ton of things going on there (India). And we agree that we are underpenetrated there. Our growth rates are good, really good by most people's expectations, maybe not mine as much,” Cook said. He said the iPhone maker is putting a "lot of energy" in India, just like Apple has in other geographies that eventually wound up producing more. "So I'm very excited about it,” he said. Cook emphasised that the 4G network investment began rolling in in a significant way toward the last quarter of last year in India, which is the third largest smartphone market in the world today behind China and the US. "But they are moving fast. They're moving at a speed that I have not seen in any other country in the world once they were started, and it is truly impressive,” he said. Apple has been "investing quite a bit" in India and has a "ton of energy" going into the country on a number of fronts. Cook sounded a bullish tone for the future of Apple in India as the 4G network infrastructure grows in the country. "And so we believe, particularly now that the 4G infrastructure is going in the country and is continuing to be expanded, that there is a huge opportunity for Apple there. And so that and the demographics of the country is why we're putting so much energy there," he said. Apple’s senior vice president and chief financial officer Luca Maestri said the company achieved double-digit growth in the US, Canada, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, Russia and Mexico. Apple’s growth rates were even higher, over 20 per cent in many other markets, including Brazil, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, India, Korea and Thailand,?Maestri?said. Apple posted revenue of $52.9 billion for its fiscal 2017 second quarter ended April 1, 2017, up from $50.6 billion in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 65 per cent of the quarter’s revenue. It reported net income of $11 billion for the second quarter as compared to $10 billion a year ago. The company said that the number of iPhones sold globally fell 1 per cent in the first calendar quarter, compared with the same period a year ago. It sold 50.76 million iPhones in its fiscal second quarter ended April 1, down from 51.19 million a year earlier. (PTI)

?Underpenetrated' in India, but optimistic about future: Apple

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