Apple can add 62M iOS users in India but it won't be easy, analyst says
Investment firm Piper Jaffray estimates India could contribute some 62 million iOS device users to Apple's user base if the company successfully ramps its presence up to China levels, but a comparatively low-income population and strict government policies presage a rough path ahead.
Apple CEO Tim Cook visits the Mac lab at GNITS women's college in India. | Source: Tim Cook via Twitter
Analyst Gene Munster, in a research note obtained by AppleInsider, said India's untapped smartphone market represents a massive growth opportunity for iPhone over the next few years. Indeed, Apple is already laying the groundwork to introduce its entire product line -- hardware, software and an internet services backbone -- to the burgeoning market.
India's potential is mirrored by other key growth markets, namely China. Citing recent studies, Munster notes only 17 percent of the country's 1.25 billion citizens own a smartphone, with Apple holding a 3 to 5 percent marketshare in 2015. That's a far cry from the Chinese landscape where smartphone penetration rates reached an estimated 58 percent for 1.37 billion consumers.
Reports disagree on Apple's share of the Chinese market, but Munster references IDC's figure of 10 to 15 percent by quarter. Based on these calculations, Apple sold about 4 million iPhones in India in 2015, versus approximately 56 million in China over the same period.
Based on the current Indian annual smartphone base, Munster estimates Apple would add 10 million in incremental iPhone units if it increases Indian marketshare to China levels. That number jumps to 16 million iOS users assuming identical smartphone penetration rates and carrying over Apple's current Indian marketshare. Combining the two hypotheticals -- equal marketshare and smartphone penetration rates -- Apple would net a whopping 62 million iOS device users from India.
However, Apple faces significant barriers to growth. Notably, Indian citizens are, on average, less wealthy than their Chinese counterparts -- Apple might price itself out of the market. The iPhone likely owns 40 to 50 percent of the high-end smartphone sector in India, Munster says, meaning the company might be forced to sell down market or create a new tier catering to the demographic. To this point, Apple has more than once applied to import preowned iPhones in a bid to better compete on price, but India's government has not been receptive. Official reportedly rebuffed such a request earlier this month.
Cook meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Munster also notes the smartphone purchasing and ownership experience is unique to the region. Consumers in India usually get their phones through small retail channels, not cellular carriers. Apple is looking to sell directly to Indian consumers through official Apple Stores, but government policy again poses a challenge. In particular, Apple faces resistance from India's Foreign Investment Promotion Board, which is pushing manufacturers to source at least 30 percent of goods sold from local suppliers. Foxconn is reportedly close to signing a deal to open iPhone manufacturing plants in India, but it could be 18 months before those facilities go on line.
Finally, India lacks a widely accessible 4G LTE network, nullifying many features and connected services that form the bedrock of Apple's iPhone platform. Cellular providers are this year building out their wireless capabilities.
During Apple's most recent earnings conference call, CEO Tim Cook said India is a major focus for the company's future growth strategy. Cook met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visited the country last week as part of an international business tour.
Apple is pursuing a multi-pronged approach to the Indian market that includes comprehensive evaluations of government operations, consumer culture, media, services, technical talent and more, Cook said in an interview last week. For example, the company recently opened a Maps development facility in Hyderabad and announced plans to build an iOS design and development center in Bengaluru.
Apple CEO Tim Cook visits the Mac lab at GNITS women's college in India. | Source: Tim Cook via Twitter
Analyst Gene Munster, in a research note obtained by AppleInsider, said India's untapped smartphone market represents a massive growth opportunity for iPhone over the next few years. Indeed, Apple is already laying the groundwork to introduce its entire product line -- hardware, software and an internet services backbone -- to the burgeoning market.
India's potential is mirrored by other key growth markets, namely China. Citing recent studies, Munster notes only 17 percent of the country's 1.25 billion citizens own a smartphone, with Apple holding a 3 to 5 percent marketshare in 2015. That's a far cry from the Chinese landscape where smartphone penetration rates reached an estimated 58 percent for 1.37 billion consumers.
Reports disagree on Apple's share of the Chinese market, but Munster references IDC's figure of 10 to 15 percent by quarter. Based on these calculations, Apple sold about 4 million iPhones in India in 2015, versus approximately 56 million in China over the same period.
Based on the current Indian annual smartphone base, Munster estimates Apple would add 10 million in incremental iPhone units if it increases Indian marketshare to China levels. That number jumps to 16 million iOS users assuming identical smartphone penetration rates and carrying over Apple's current Indian marketshare. Combining the two hypotheticals -- equal marketshare and smartphone penetration rates -- Apple would net a whopping 62 million iOS device users from India.
However, Apple faces significant barriers to growth. Notably, Indian citizens are, on average, less wealthy than their Chinese counterparts -- Apple might price itself out of the market. The iPhone likely owns 40 to 50 percent of the high-end smartphone sector in India, Munster says, meaning the company might be forced to sell down market or create a new tier catering to the demographic. To this point, Apple has more than once applied to import preowned iPhones in a bid to better compete on price, but India's government has not been receptive. Official reportedly rebuffed such a request earlier this month.
Cook meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Munster also notes the smartphone purchasing and ownership experience is unique to the region. Consumers in India usually get their phones through small retail channels, not cellular carriers. Apple is looking to sell directly to Indian consumers through official Apple Stores, but government policy again poses a challenge. In particular, Apple faces resistance from India's Foreign Investment Promotion Board, which is pushing manufacturers to source at least 30 percent of goods sold from local suppliers. Foxconn is reportedly close to signing a deal to open iPhone manufacturing plants in India, but it could be 18 months before those facilities go on line.
Finally, India lacks a widely accessible 4G LTE network, nullifying many features and connected services that form the bedrock of Apple's iPhone platform. Cellular providers are this year building out their wireless capabilities.
During Apple's most recent earnings conference call, CEO Tim Cook said India is a major focus for the company's future growth strategy. Cook met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visited the country last week as part of an international business tour.
Apple is pursuing a multi-pronged approach to the Indian market that includes comprehensive evaluations of government operations, consumer culture, media, services, technical talent and more, Cook said in an interview last week. For example, the company recently opened a Maps development facility in Hyderabad and announced plans to build an iOS design and development center in Bengaluru.
Comments
And yet, the analysts, no doubt mistakenly assuming that Apple is coming to the situation only recently, reflecting the analysts own awakening, all seem to assume that Apple just discovered India, this country of 1.2 billion, and are now scrambling to react to it. How naive. It's as though none of them ever built a company, or ever heard of long-term strategic roadmapping.
As as an aside, to those who believe fervently-- and possibly rightly -- that Apple can go many, many years without the next blockbuster product (the last one being the iPad), how many are NOT willing to wait at least until 2022 (i.e., six years from Cook's visit) for India to happen?
(Hint: There's only one non-hypocritical answer to this question, and SS has already disqualified himself! ;-)).
They have a space program despite receiving billions in aid.
They have disparity between the rich and poor.
Plus I read recently that India has one of the highest number of Billionaires.
Opening up a production factory seems like a no-brainer. Employ the poor, sell to the rich, be allowed Apple stores in India. Everyone wins.
Apple will never have a large "share" in the global smartphone market where over 300 million units are sold every quarter.
But Apple can certainly try to sell as many units as they can... in as many markets as they can. Why would they not?
Nobody wants to sell fewer products.
As for "lower quality", prove it or STFU.
So, POs throll spammer (with possibly multiply accounts), go back to MacRumor were they love this crap.
Most companies don't aim for volume, they aim for revenue and profits. If you can make more money selling 10 items than selling 100 and you know you have a market for 10, then why waste the effort making and selling 100?