The iPhone 5 is all set to hit stores next Friday. The phone, which was launched in the US on September 21, has a number of ready buyers, who have been awaiting its arrival in India.

Instagram Micro said that “it will offer iPhone 5 at leading modern trade stores and retail outlets across India beginning Friday, November 2” in a statement. The company is not ready to divulge the official price and details of pre-orders. Retailers are expecting a bumper pre-Diwali sale with the availability of the iPhone 5. “We have not got any official communication from Apple. But if the product comes before Diwali, we expect good sales,” said Karan Umed Mistry, store manager, Reliance iStore (Warden Road).

Price no bar

The phone is already available in the grey market. The exorbitant price and lack of warranty in the grey market does not hinder true-blue Apple loyalists who are waiting to grab the first few iPhone 5 models.

eBay, the virtual market place, is also selling iPhone 5. About 55 handsets were sold in a span of five days on eBay, when it was first launched in September. As of now, different models of the iPhone 5 are available online for prices ranging between Rs 40,000 and Rs 80,000. Features such as the four-inch retina display, new design, fast wireless capacity and powerful A6 chip are expected to draw a new club of ‘Apple’ buyers.

Ever since the price of iPhone 4 and 4s has been reduced, retailers are seeing good demand for the product. However, they think this may be the last week for sales of the older versions. “Many people are waiting for the iPhone 5. As Diwali is nearing, people feel that it could be a good Diwali gift for their near and dear ones,” said a shop owner, at an electronics store.

Apple has appointed Instagram Micro as distributor for large-format retail and Redington for other channels.

Redington is also readying for the launch, after it expects the stocks to come in by the first week of November.

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