“Some people are more excited about the new iPhone5 than they are about their own kids,” tweeted Buck. This excitement is translating into frantic phone calls to major retailers.
Apple loyalists in India are eagerly waiting for the product, even though they may have just bought their iPhone 4S a few months ago.
“Although Apple has not officially issued any communication about the iPhone 5, people are continuously asking when we will sell the phone here. We get close to 50 inquiries a day,” said Karan Umed Mistry, store manager, Reliance iStore (Warden Road). Analysts say that this speculation started after Apple sent an invitation to reporters in the US, containing a shadow in the shape of a ‘5’.
“People are very excited about iPhone 5. They are asking about its new features and price. We don’t have any information as of now, so we are asking them to wait for a while,” said an owner of an electronics store. Retailers expect the iPhone5 to reach India in the next one month.
Retailers like eZone are also seeing a steady rise in the number of inquiries for the new Apple phone. “We are getting a number of queries from people for the iPhone5, but that has not stopped people from buying the iPhone 4S,” said Vijay Vadipalli from ezone – Haji Ali. At present, the iPhone 4S is available for Rs 44,500.
Rural pockets
Even people in the hinterland are prepared to spend on the iPhone.
People from rural pockets such as Theni near Madurai, and Pollachi and Udumalpet near Coimbatore are going for the iPhone in a big way, said a spokesperson at Indsys (an authorised Apple dealer).
“The market for Apple iPhone 4S is still hot. People are still awed by the 4S and even this morning, we received inquiries for this smartphone, which was launched almost a year ago.
Vendors have no stock of 4S,” said the dealer. Considering the demand for iPhones here, Indsys is understood to have made bookings for 70-75 units of iPhone5.
“We are not accepting advance booking; the latest release anyway would be made available here only after two-three months,” he said.
While the buzz gets louder, customers are waiting for the all-important price announcement.
(with inputs from L N Revathy from Coimbatore)