Reliance to market and distribute Apple products in India

Under the deal, Reliance will have standalone iStores, co-branded as "iStore by Reliance Digital", the first of which is to come up by October-end in Bangalore.

The Bangalore standalone store will be opened just before Diwali, and will cover over 2,000 sq ft of floor space.

The deal is also a first for Apple, who is tying up for the first time with a large corporate house for marketing and distribution, anywhere in the world.

As standalone stores, Reliance''s iStores would retail Apple products, including Macintosh computers, iPods, and later, the iPhone.

Worldwide, Apple stores feature a theatre for presentations and workshops, a studio for training with Apple products, and a Genius Bar for technical support and repairs. Apple stores also offer free workshops to the public.

Industry sources say that by the end of 2007, Reliance Retail is looking to open 10 iStores, with Apple investing in market development.

The deal is seen as symbiotic, giving Apple immediate presence and scale in India, a market where its has a following and brand recognition, but limited presence. For Reliance, benefits will come in the form of Reliance Digital''s co-branding with Apple.

Reliance Digital is the consumer electronics arm of the Indian conglomerate''s retail venture, and currently has a single store in the national capital region. Apple for its part has few resellers in India, but no company-owned store.

Apple sells its products globally through its online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, third-party wholesalers, resellers and value-added resellers.