Know about Apple’s new strategy to knock Samsung out of competition in India

In a bid to double iPhone sales in the next three years, Apple has signed up a partnership with Delhi-based Optiemus Group, a leading phone distributor in the country who also sells Samsung and HTC smart phones.

As per an Economic Times report, Apple is planning to sign some more deals in continuation as Optiemus itself is the fifth distributor after Redington, Ingram Micro, Rashi Peripherals and Brightstar.

"Since shipment figures are one of the indicators of success in the smart phone industry, any new distributor Apple appoints will lead to an instant surge in shipments, which will help it to achieve the target fixed by headquarters and will also lead to a significant jump in retail reach," an industry executive told ET.

Apple is aiming for the sales of two million iPhones in India in this (October-September) fiscal year after notching up one million last year. In the seven months ended April 30, the company sold a million iPhones in India. Another executive said Apple India had been under pressure since Samsung has become more aggressive and wants to ensure that volume sales grow at twice the existing pace.

"Apple's distributors are now reaching out to even local consumer electronic dealers and mobile phone stores for stocking iPhones and setting up dedicated space in such stores," he said.

When ET wrote an email sent to the company (Apple) seeking . Attempts to reach Optiemus Group promoter Ashok Gupta on his mobile were unsuccessful. While Apple has been a longtime leader in the Rs 30,000-plus Indian smart phone market, South Korean rival Samsung overtook the American firm in January- April quarter, as per the latest data from market tracker Counterpoint Research. Samsung's renewed vigor stems from the success of its latest flagship Galaxy S6, S6 Edge and Note Edge.

By value, Apple is the number two brand in the overall Indian smart phone market after Samsung. By volume, Apple ranked lower with a share of about 2%, compared with market leader Samsung at 28% followed by Micromax at 15%.