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Tag: Apple india

  • Apple Introduces Apple Intelligence to the Indian Market

    Apple eventually released iOS 18.4 for eligible iPhone models after a protracted delay and growing anticipation. Apple Intelligence capabilities, including writing tools, cleanup tools, visual intelligence, and more, are finally available in India with this latest iPhone upgrade. Thus, after a long time, Indian customers of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series will be able to utilise the Apple AI feature. The company is finally adding more language support for Apple Intelligence with the iOS 18.4 upgrade. Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Spanish, simplified Chinese, and English local to Singapore and India are among the new languages. Here are some things the latest iOS 18.4 update offers in the Indian AI market if you haven’t explored Apple Intelligence and its potential.

    Improved Writing and More Prompt Responses

    The most recent versions of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 give users access to Writing Tools, which let them edit, proofread, and summarise text in third-party apps, mail, messages, and notes. While the Smart Reply feature suggests prompt responses based on messages, Apple Intelligence provides tone modifications for writing styles that are professional, clear, or pleasant.

    Augmented Reality Images and AI-Driven Pictures

    Clean Up, a major AI update for the Photos app, lets users eliminate distracting items from photos. By comprehending user descriptions, the recently added Memories function can now create personalised video montages. In the meanwhile, Apple’s Visual Intelligence can interpret language, recognise locations, plants, and animals, and even use scanned posters to construct calendar events.

    ChatGPT Integration for More Intelligent Siri

    Siri has been further integrated into Apple’s ecosystem and is now more conversational and context-aware. Users may talk or text to Siri with ease and anticipate a lively, organic answer. Furthermore, Apple has included ChatGPT in Writing Tools and Siri, enabling users to access OpenAI’s knowledge of content creation and problem-solving without having to switch between apps. Notably, Apple guarantees stringent privacy safeguards for users who choose to use ChatGPT, and access is free of charge.

    Image Playground & Genmoji

    With the help of the Image Playground tool, users can easily generate AI-driven images based on themes, outfits, and accessories. This feature is immediately integrated into programmes like Keynote and Freeform as well as Messages. Genmoji, on the other hand, goes beyond emoji customisation by enabling users to produce original emoticons from text descriptions or even ones that are influenced by friends and relatives.

    Better Privacy and Productivity

    Users may more easily concentrate on what is really important thanks to notification summaries and new priority messages in Mail. Image Wand, an AI enhancement for the Notes app, turns crude doodles into polished graphics. While Private Cloud Compute safely expands AI capabilities into the cloud as required, Apple Intelligence operates mostly on-device, guaranteeing privacy.

  • Blinkit will Now Deliver Apple Products in 10 Minutes

    Blinkit, a Quick commerce player, has initiated the delivery of Apple products, such as the MacBook Air, iPad, and AirPods, within 10 minutes in specific cities in India, according to its founder and CEO, Albinder Dhindsa, on February 27. Customers can now receive MacBook Air, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch, and other Apple accessories in 10 minutes, he wrote in a post on X. The Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Jaipur, Bengaluru, and Kolkata are among the cities where the brand has begun to deliver, he added. Zomato’s rapid commerce division lost INR 103 crore in the quarter that concluded on December 31, 2024, primarily as a result of deferring growth investments.

    Zomato Pouring More Investment in Blinkit

    Zomato has invested INR 4,300 crore into Blinkit since acquiring the online grocery delivery service, formerly known as Grofers, in an all-stock deal for INR 4,477 crore in August 2022. Zomato has been investing more in Blinkit, mostly to finance its rapid growth and offset operating losses in the fiercely competitive quick commerce market, according to reports published by various media houses. A media article indicates that Blinkit’s revenues sufficiently cover its operational needs; yet, the burn rate remains elevated due to aggressive expansion and rising marketing expenditures.

    This necessitates more capital infusions to stimulate expansion. In a recent interview, Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa expressed a similar perspective, stating that the majority of the company’s expenses arise from expansion efforts. Dhindsa stated that the expenses associated with expansion are inescapable, whether incurred through marketing or idle costs. Based on Blinkit’s growth trends, the company may have managed to offset its expansion expenses, but heightened marketing expenditures have impeded progress.

    Zepto Adds More than 20 Dark Stores in Tamil Nadu

    Beyond Chennai, Zepto, a fast commerce startup based in Bengaluru, has already established itself throughout Tamil Nadu. Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Vellore, and Salem are just a few of the districts in the state where the company has started operations. With more than twenty dark stores open in Tamil Nadu, each one well situated to maximise delivery within two to three kilometres, enabling partners to transport purchases in ten minutes while staying safe, Zepto is poised to solidify its position in the state.

    Zepto users and other clients can purchase delicate coconuts and green vegetables from over 100 farmers in Tamil Nadu, including Palacode and Pollachi. This provides Zepto with a much-needed local connection. With its vibrant cities and high desire for convenience, the state of Tamil Nadu is a crucial market for Zepto, according to Divesh Sawhney, Chief Growth Officer.

    The Race for Quick Commerce is Heating Up

    The rapid commerce industry has evolved into a high-cash-burn sector, with companies allocating billions towards expansion and client acquisition. Industry estimates indicate that the aggregate monthly cash burn of rapid commerce entities, including new entrants, ranges between INR 1,300 and 1,500 crore—more than double in recent months.

    Despite nearing operational breakeven in Q2 FY25, Blinkit’s losses escalated in Q3 FY25, with operating losses rising to INR 103 crore from INR 8 crore in the preceding quarter. Swiggy reported a net loss of INR 799 crore, while Instamart had an adjusted EBITDA loss of INR 578 crore in Q3, compared to INR 358 crore in Q2.

  • With a Starting Price of INR 59,900, Apple Introduces the iPhone 16e in India

    The newest model in the iPhone 16 series, the iPhone 16e, has been released in India by iPhone manufacturer Apple. Pre-orders for the February 19-launched iPhone 16e will open in 59 countries, including India, on February 21. According to the business, the newest smartphones will go on sale on February 28. The 128GB base variant of the gadget would cost INR 59,900 in India. Additionally, there will be 256GB and 512GB models available, with prices of INR 69,900 and INR 89,900, respectively.

    The phone is available with black and white finishes and a range of colourful cases to go with it. For INR 3,900, the iPhone 16e Silicone Case will come in five different colours: lake green, black, white, fuchsia, and winter blue.

    The iPhone 16e has all of the features that customers adore about the iPhone 16 lineup, according to Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing. These features include an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, fast performance driven by the latest generation A18 chip, breakthrough battery life, and Apple Intelligence.

    Features of iPhone 16e

    The iPhone 16e features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, a durable rear glass, and a Ceramic Shield front cover. According to Apple, the Ceramic Shield front cover has the hardest rear glass in a smartphone and a proprietary composition that makes it more durable than any other smartphone glass. Apple’s most recent A18 chip powers the iPhone 16e. A 4-core GPU is included to manage graphics-intensive operations, while the 6-core CPU is said to be up to 80% faster than the A13 Bionic engine found in the iPhone 11. The C1 is the first modem created by Apple and the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, extending the advantages of Apple silicon and providing dependable and quick 5G cellular communication. According to Apple, exceptional battery life is a result of the A18 silicon, which includes the C1 with a completely new internal design, and the sophisticated power management of iOS 18.

    The phone has a 48MP Fusion camera with optical zoom capabilities and a built-in 2x Telephoto lens. The iPhone 16e can record at 60 frames per second in 4K with Dolby Vision. Additionally, the iPhone 16e allows for additional video sound editing options with Audio Mix and records video in Spatial Audio for immersive listening through AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, or a surround sound system. Furthermore, the iPhone 16e has Apple’s satellite capabilities, which allow for the use of Find My, Messages, Roadside Assistance, and Emergency SOS even when cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity is unavailable.

    Collaborating AI with ML

    The iPhone 16e is designed for Apple Intelligence, the company’s user-friendly personal artificial intelligence system, just like its predecessors in the iPhone 16 series. The 16-core Neural Engine can process machine learning (ML) models up to 6 times quicker than the A13 Bionic and is optimised for big generative models. Among its features is Clean Up in Photos, which uses Apple Intelligence to help users eliminate distractions from photos. Additionally, users can use Image Playground to experiment with different visual expressions, Genmoj to develop emojis, and work tools to add even more vibrancy to their work.

    Siri is more conversational and can follow along if users fumble their speech, much like the iPhone 16 models. Users can opt to utilise ChatGPT’s knowledge without switching between apps thanks to its seamless integration with Writing Tools and Siri. In addition to IP68 water and dust protection, Apple Intelligence prioritises user privacy and offers individualised support. According to Apple, the iPhone 16e can outlast the iPhone 11 by up to six hours. iOS 18 operates on the iPhone 16e. Users will be able to switch their primary iPhone language to either Bangla, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, or Urdu in April, according to Apple. Face ID, an action button for instant access to frequently used features and visual intelligence tools, and USB-C wired and wireless charging choices are other highlights.

    Apple is Manufacturing the iPhone 16e in India

    The IT juggernaut Apple is exporting the recently released iPhone 16e to foreign nations while building it domestically for domestic consumers through its contract manufacturers in India. The entire iPhone 16 lineup, including the iPhone 16e, is being assembled in India for Indian consumers and for export to a few other countries, Apple told a media outlet. Notably, the Tim Cook-led company already assembles previous models of its flagship iPhones, including the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15, in India.

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  • iPhone Tops List, Apple India Sets New Quarterly Revenue Record

    According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, the company’s October–December quarter sales in India set a record, with the iPhone emerging as the top-selling smartphone model in the nation. Throughout the company’s Q1 2025 financial results call, Cook stated, “I am especially keen on India, as we’re opening four new stores there and they set a December quarter record during the quarter.”  With overall shipments hitting a record $12.8 billion (about INR 1.08 lakh cr), Apple’s iPhone exports from India in 2024 broke the INR 1 lakh cr milestone. The CEO also discussed the company’s plans to open four new locations across the nation. In October of last year, Apple announced intentions to establish four more retail locations nationwide. The iPhone manufacturer intends to open new locations in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Delhi NCR.

    India -2nd Largest Market for Smartphones: Cook

    Given that India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market and the third-largest for PCs and tablets, he also emphasised the potential of the Indian smartphone market throughout the call. Cook responded to a query from an analyst regarding supply chain planning in India by stating that since the company produces its goods for both the local and international markets, economies of scale are necessary for the Indian manufacturer to earn money. In addition to French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese, the tech giant now plans to make Apple Intelligence available in a number of languages, including India’s localised English. The CEO of Apple also cited Zomato, a massive foodtech startup in India, to illustrate how the business is seeing high demand in developing areas.

    Growing Network of Apple in India

    Cook added that the company saw high demand in new areas as well. For instance, Zomato, a well-known Indian food delivery service, has thousands of Macs spread throughout its workstations. Apple recently began talks with Bharat Forge Ltd., a major manufacturer of auto components, to include Kalyani Group as one of its local vendors. The business launched the Apple Store app in India earlier this month in response to growing sales of its flagship iPhone devices in the nation. The company’s goal is to increase its retail presence in the second-largest smartphone market in the world.

    On a year-over-year basis, the company’s product sales increased 1.5% to USD 97.96 billion from USD 96.45 billion, while its services sales increased around 14% to reach a record high quarterly revenue of USD 26.34 billion from USD 23.11 billion. On a year-over-year basis, sales of Apple’s Mac PCs rose 15.5% to USD 8.98 billion from USD 7.78 billion, and sales of the iPad gained almost 15% to USD 8 billion from USD 7 billion. With the exception of China, where it produces the majority of Apple products, the company’s sales increased in every region. During the December quarter, Apple’s sales in China fell 11% to $18.5 billion from USD 20.8 billion in the same period last year.

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  • By FY27, Apple Aims to Produce 32% of iPhones and 26% of Value in India

    By 2026–2027, a year after the end of the five-year production-linked incentive (PLI) programme for handheld devices, Apple Inc. and its suppliers hope to assemble 32% of the iPhone’s global production volume and 26% of its value in India.

    If global iPhone sales stay at 2023-24 (FY24) levels, this may amount to a production value of more than $34 billion. According to media reports, the figures are based on conversations on product assembly in India between Apple Inc. and its suppliers as well as the federal and state governments. 

    India to Produce 17-18% World’s iPhone

    Apple‘s vendors project a freight-on-board (FOB) production value of $9 billion for the first half of 2024–2025 (FY25). According to projections, India would produce 17–18% of the world’s iPhones by the end of the fiscal year and 14% of their total worth.

    Only 12–14% of the world’s iPhone production volume moved to India in FY24, although the value accounted for more than 10%. The corporation is anticipated to conclude FY25 with a production value of $18 billion (market value around $27 billion), according to vendor planning.

    The Marketing Dynamics of iPhone

    Sales, distribution costs, and dealer margins make up the market value of iPhones, whereas FOB denotes the value at the time of shipment. India’s iPhone production was valued at $14 billion in FY24. Given that iPhones accounted for 51% of Apple Inc.’s $391 billion global revenue in the fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2024, the country stands to gain greatly from the move of iPhone production from China.

    With $201 billion in global sales, the iPhone is 21% more than the Tata Group‘s $165 billion overall revenue and 67% higher than Reliance Industries’ $119 billion revenue for FY24. Worldwide, Apple’s iPhone sales are on par with Microsoft’s ($211 billion) and surpass those of several companies, including Chevron ($200 billion), Honda Motor ($141 billion), Ford Motor ($176 billion), and Nestlé ($103 billion). Therefore, any increase in manufacturing capacity for India would result in significant additional income for the nation. 

    India is Becoming a Centre Stage for iPhone Production

    The significance of this change is demonstrated by the fact that JP Morgan earlier predicted that by 2026–2027, 25–30% of iPhone manufacture would relocate to India. By the fifth year of the PLI scheme, Apple had originally promised to move just 10% of its production to India. But in the scheme’s third year, it has already surpassed that amount. If US President-elect Donald Trump raises taxes on mobile devices (which are presently 15%), especially with regard to China, with whom the US is engaged in a trade war, the scenario could shift even further.

    India, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian nations may benefit from the punitive tariffs that Trump has suggested may reach 60%. Of course, if the government does not discover more measures to reduce tariff rates on components used in mobile devices, ease labour regulations, and improve logistics, Apple’s vendor targets may alter. This is because China and Vietnam are more affordable than India. Furthermore, the difficulty of reaching value-addition goals of 35–40% by the PLI scheme’s conclusion may make matters more difficult.

    Apple Establishes First Indian R&D Subsidiary
    Apple Inc. establishes its first R&D subsidiary in India, marking a key investment in innovation and technology development within the country.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • Apple Inc. Establishes its First R&D Subsidiary in India

    India might soon contribute to the design, testing, and research of Apple’s new products. The Cupertino-based business has established Apple Operations India as a completely owned subsidiary in India.

    The new entity’s anticipated activities included hiring engineers for hardware development, leasing facilities, purchasing engineering equipment, and offering failure analysis services to group companies, according to a regulatory filing.

    ‘Letter of Comfort’ From Apple

    According to Apple Operations India’s registration with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) last week, Apple Inc. has provided “a letter of comfort,” guaranteeing that it will continue to provide “operational and financial support” for the “foreseeable future.” It would be the first time in Indian history for the iPhone manufacturer to design and test hardware in the nation. Currently, the business conducts research and development in Israel, China, Germany, and the US. Additionally, this is the first time the US parent company’s Macintosh PC manufacturer has established a direct subsidiary in India.

    According to the RoC, Apple Operations International, based in Ireland, is the owner of Apple India, the holding company of its current sales and marketing entity.

    According to the application, Apple outsources the manufacturing of its products in India, and the new entity would assist independent contractors and manufacturers by offering hardware, software, and other services.

    Apple’s Operations in India

    Top international electronics companies like Samsung, LG, and Sony currently have research and development (R&D) facilities in India; however, these are primarily restricted to software development for international launches and hardware localisation of products. Vivo and Oppo, two Chinese phone manufacturers, operate similarly.

    To outsource tech and back office services and carry out research and development, numerous multinational corporations from the United States and Europe have established global competence centres (GCCs) in India.

    In addition, Apple is establishing the new India corporation in the midst of the ongoing economic dispute between the US and China, which is predicted to get worse after Donald Trump won the recently concluded Presidency Election.

    Apple is Growing its Network in India

    According to its memorandum of association with the RoC, Apple Operations India will “undertake research and development and design relating to science, engineering, technology and applied technology, computer and information technology programming, research and systems, related technical support, technical testing and analysis,” among other related activities.

     According to the memorandum, it will also supply third-party manufacturers and/or contractors with any kind of “equipment, instruments, components, and systems, technical, electronic, mechanical, software, or otherwise, by way of lease, hire, or otherwise.”

    Tim Cook, the company’s CEO, has admitted in all of the company’s earnings calls over the past few years that Apple has been breaking sales records in India every quarter. As Cook stated last month, Apple now has two company-owned stores in India and intends to launch four more soon. Apple is currently the nation’s biggest exporter of electronics after growing its manufacturing facilities there with three partners.

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