Apple-RIL might join hands to sell iPhones

TIL Desk/Business/New Delhi-Apple, among the world’s most-valuable tech companies, and Reliance Industries (RIL), India’s second-largest conglomerate, are looking at widening their distribution tie-up ahead of the iPhone 7 launch in the country next month.

The move is significant since an arrangement such as this has never been seen in the domestic consumer electronics market, where smartphone companies generally depend on a network of online and offline retailers for sales.

The tie-up will see Apple capitalising on Reliance’s 120,000-strong dealer network across the country to push its products, in addition to Reliance Digital stores, where iPhones are already available. Effectively, Apple will get a far greater reach than the roughly 10,000 offline stores (this includes traditional and modern trade) where the brand is currently sold.