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"KOLKATA: Fanfare is missing around Apple’s new iPhone 8 and 8Plus in India as well, with bookings ahead of the local launch at about half of what the iPhone 7 and 7Plus recorded a year ago. Retailers said most of the potential consumers were waiting for the pricier and much-hyped iPhone X, which would be available just over a month after the iPhone 8 series goes on sale on Friday.Indian consumers are mirroring a trend reported from all of Apple’s key markets, including the US, UK and China, where fewer customers queued up outside stores to buy the iPhone 8 and 8Plus with most people waiting for the iPhone X.Three senior industry executives, who requested anonymity, said Apple was asking its exclusive stores in India — the franchisee-run Apple Premium Resellers — to stock a minimum number of handsets to push sales from the stores. The company is confident that sales of the iPhone 8 series will pick up as its India launch is timed to cover both key festivals of Dussehra and Diwali, they said.“Some distributor officials have asked the exclusive stores to stock around 500 units at the launch phase without which they may not get adequate stock of the iPhone X. These are signs of some anxiety which is not typical of Apple,” said a senior executive at a leading cellphone retail chain. To be fair, an industry executive said, the iPhone 8 and 8Plus also have a wider presence this year in online marketplaces as well where significant sales can happen with the second round of festive sales planned next week.“Even the Reliance Digital and Jio stores will push sales of iPhone 8 and 8Plus since they have exclusive bundling plans,” he added.An email sent to Apple India’s spokesperson did not elicit any response until press time on Thursday. Apple will launch the iPhone 8 and 8Plus in India on Friday at 6 pm — a week after the global launch — starting at Rs 64,000.The iPhone X will be launched in India on November 3 as part of its global launch. It is priced at Rs 89,000 (64GB model) and Rs 1.02 lakh (256GB). The CEOs of two leading cellphone retail chains said pre-booking of iPhone 8 and 8Plus had been just 20% and 30%, respectively, of the previous versions at their stores.The owner of an Apple premium reseller in New Delhi confirmed poor booking, but said some people may buy the new iPhone 8 for gifting.“However, demand may pick up from November if there is a shortage of the iPhone X, as expected, whereby the buyers withholding their purchase decision will go for the iPhone 8 and 8Plus,” he said, while also pointing to the possibilities of an increased cash back or buyback offer on these two models. It has been widely reported that the new iPhone 8 and 8Plus had muted launch this year across the world. A recent report by Reuters said the low turnout globally was in part due to reviews of the new handsets having fewer incremental features over the previous series.Several analysts have predicted a shortage of the iPhone X when sales of the substantially upgraded version start. Reports suggest the iPhone X’s global pre-orders to touch a record 50 million.Follow and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin"
<https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/iphone-8-8-plus-launching-today-bookings-hit-by-impending-iphone-x-launch/60877352>