Retail News: The iPhone mania has taken India by the storm as major retail chains are facing a supply shortage for the premium device, according to a report by the Economic Times. The report states that “top multi-brand cellphone and electronic retail chains such as The MobileStore, PlanetM, UniverCell and Future Group say their 5S stocks are over but that they still have 5C phones.”
The report also quotes PlanetM Retail chief executive Sanjay Karwa as saying that those who want an iPhone 5s won’t settle for the 5c.
Reliance Communications and Airtel have also launched massive offers for the iPhone 5s. The report in ET also adds that Reliance Communications sold off nearly all the 2,700 units it was supplied with in one and a half days.
Apple iPhone 5s is priced between Rs 53,500 (16 GB) and Rs 71,500 (64 GB) while iPhone 5c is priced at Rs 41,900 (16 GB) and Rs 53,500 (32 GB).
As far as offers on the iPhone 5s are concerned, Reliance Communications is offering the smartphone for a sweet Rs 2,999 per month for a contract period pf 24 months.
The offer will include the handset cost, unlimited local and STD calls, SMS, national roaming and 3G data.
Under this offer, Apple iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s customers will not receive any usage bill for 24 months, as the monthly payments include all usage charges.
Only international calls and international roaming charges will have to be paid for. The iPhone 5c is also available on the same offer but for a monthly payment of Rs 2599 with the same data and voice deal.
Customers however will require a credit card for buying the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c under the offer. They will need credit cards from ICICI Bank, Standard Chartered, HDFC Bank and Citi Bank. The amount will be billed to their credit card.