An Apple-HCL tie-up should increase penetration, but prices still rule higher then elsewhere.
Apple’s terrible distribution network in India got a significant fillip with the company’s recent tie-up with the company’s recent tie-up with HCL info systems to distribute the ipod here.
Even through this tie-up has not meant any reduction in the end-price of the ipod in India (Rs.4000 for the 512 MB ipod shuffle to Rs.23, 000 for the 60GB video ipod), which is still much higher then its price in the US thanks to sundry duties that the government sees fit to charge, it does mean that legal Apple ipod will now be available in over 300 towns and cities across the country, along with a support network. This, say company officials, means warranties, after sales service, and easy availability at all major music stores and consumer electronic outlets
However, for the time being, you will still end up going to the gray market if you want those must have ipod accessories like the shure in-ear buds—since these best sellers are nowhere close to Indian stories as of low .
HCL has also launched www.hcllive.com, a website clearly inspired by Apple iTunes online music store. Even through you can download music and videos from this site (Rs 5 per song), it has extremely clunky interface that does not display properly on all browsers.
Hopefully, Steve Jobs, CEO of apple computer, will remember the country he came to as a young man searching for the meaning of life and give us a proper itunes store. May be a flagship Apple store like the one he just open in Manhattan won’t be such a bad idea either .
So yes, the ipod is officially here but you’re basically still better off buying this charmer (of any configuration) and its accessories abroad.
