American cell phone maker Apple has reported making a flying start in the domestic market with 2,200 iPhones sold in a month. Generation Next Communications (Genxt), the authorized distributor of Apple in Nepal, said that 1,800 iPhones had already been delivered while 400 iPhones on order would be delivered within a week.

Genxt currently offers the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S models with different storage capabilities. The company is planning to roll out the iPhone 4S in the near future.

Genxt Managing Director Pawan Kumar Bhimsaria said that iPhones had captured the imagination of cell phone users in Nepal and that they had received bookings for 4,500 units of the iPhone 6 and around 500 units of the iPhone 4S.

Even though the iPhone had been available in Nepal ever since its launch in the US, no authentic sales figures could be obtained as the product had not been released officially in Nepal.

That changed when Apple appointed Genxt as the official distributor in November, 2014 and sales of the iPhone started on December 19. Apple phones are being sold from Evo Store and Future World. Likewise, 18 Ncell counters are selling iPhones with service bundling.

“We are extremely happy with the response iPhone has received in the domestic market,” Bhimsaria said, adding that the market had given a very good indication. “When the phone was introduced, we thought that demand for 16 GB phones would be high. We were surprised to see people willing to pay Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 more to get their hands on phones with 64 GB and 128 GB storage capacities.”

According to Bhimsaria, the iPhone 6 is presently the most sought after phone in the domestic market. And even though customers can buy Apple phones on an equal monthly instalment (EMI) basis, the company has seen a majority of buyers making onetime payments. Genxt said that the trend proved that there is no dearth of purchasers if there is a good product on the market.  

Genxt is confident that the upcoming months will be even better for the company as supplies have been improving gradually and it is planning to launch more cell phones models.

“If we have abundant stocks, we can sell 3,000 phones in three days,” Bhimsaria said, adding that the launch of the iPhone 4S, which will have a starting price of Rs 35,000, will increase the company’s penetration in the domestic market. The iPhone 4S will cater to the demand of people wanting to carry Apple devices at affordable prices.

According to Bhimsaria, sales of Apple products have started shifting gradually to authorized sellers from the grey market which too will benefit the company. “Customers can get a one-year warranty, VAT bill and insurance while buying from us,” Bhimsaria said. “Plus, they can get proper care for their products through our service centres.”

Moreover, while an iPhone in golden colour costs Rs 3,000 more in the grey market, prices at Genxt are the same for all colour options.

iPad to be rolled out this month

The authorised distributor of Apple products in Nepal, Generation Next Communications (Genxt), said on Monday that it was all set to introduce the iPad by January-end. “We have been receiving very good feedback. People are making frequent inquiries regarding the availability of the iPad,” said Pawan Kumar Bhimsaria, managing director of Genxt, adding that the company was confident about the product’s sales performance.

According to Bhimsaria, a total of 22 different models of iPads will be launched. The entry level iPad device, the iPad Mini (Wi-Fi), will be introduced with 16 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB storage capacities and they will be priced between Rs 55,000 and Rs 82,000. The iPad Air (Wi-Fi) which will be available in 16 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB storage capacities will cost in the range of Rs 72,000 to Rs 110,000.

“We will also be introducing the same devices with cellular option. Prices of cellular devices will be 10 percent higher than those with Wi-Fi devices,” Bhimsaria said. The iPads will be available in gold, silver and grey colour options.

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