Apple to open online store in key Indian market         

India’s 1.3bn people represents a large, under-served smartphone market that is becoming an increasingly important focus for Apple. File picture

Apple is poised to open an online store for the first time in the fast-growing smartphone market of India next month, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, taking advantage of a relaxation of once-strict prohibitions against foreign direct retail.

The online store will be ready for operations just ahead of the festive Dussehra-Diwali spending season, according to the source.