Indian users of the iPhone 5 will not be able to access 19 of the 24 special features available on Apple’s latest operating system.

The iOs 6, which made its debut last month, has about 200 new features. There are about 24 new features listed in the ‘country-specific’ availability clause. Indians will not have access to any of the Siri features and some map features, among others, according to Apple’s Web site.

Siri is Apple’s intelligent personal assistant which you can talk to to send messages, schedule meetings and even call. In the Siri category, Indians will miss out on Twitter and Facebook integration; local search; restaurant information, reviews and reservations; film information, reviews and timings; and sports features.

Analysts say that the Indian ecosystem has not developed enough for the high-end features.

In the maps category, Indians will only have access to the standard, local search and satellite features. Other features such as turn-by-turn navigation and 3D buildings and traffic are not supported in India. Some time ago, Apple replaced Google maps with its own application. Apple has not completed the groundwork in India for this.

“Emerging markets struggle to be able to keep up with the adoption of these new features,” said Abhishek Chauhan, Senior Consultant, ICT Practice, Frost & Sullivan, South Asia and Middle East. “However, India is not a priority market for Apple. The sales in the Indian market are actually an add-on for the Apple. It is more of an aspirational purchase that happens,” said Chauhan.

With improving 3G connectivity in the country and introduction of 4G, analysts feel that many more features may become accessible to Indian users in the coming days.

> priya.s@thehindu.co.in

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