Apple, which is planning to make it big in India in the coming time has got a big jolt with its recent sales figures according to a report by an analytics firm. Apple iPhone shipments fell 35 per cent annually at 0.8 million smartphones in India in the second quarter of 2016.  The company shipped 800,000 smartphones in India in Q2 2016, this compares to 1.2 million smartphones it shipped during the same quarter last year. Apple's smartphone marketshare halved from 4.5 per cent to just 2.4 per cent in India during the past year. "Apple iOS will need to reduce iPhone pricing to cheaper levels, attract more operator subsidies and enlarge its retail presence through Apple stores or online channels if it wants to regrow significantly in the future ", said the head of the firm which gave the report. 

This sure seems to be a worry for the giant who is planning to open its company-owned stores in India. At its recent earnings call, CEO Tim Cook said, "In the first three quarters of this fiscal year, our iPhone sales in India were up 51 per cent year-on-year. We are looking forward to opening retail stores in India down the road and we see huge potential for that vibrant country,". While Android dominates the India smartphone market and looks unbeatable right now for its extensive distribution channels, and a wide range of low-cost apps. India is currently the world's third largest smartphone market, after China and the US. India is growing quickly due to low smartphone penetration rates, an expanding middle class with more disposable income, and intense competition among major vendors, retailers and operators says an official.