Chennai, Hyderabad to get Apple stores

Ample Technologies plans to focus on South India with exclusive retail
outlets slated to open in 2005

Spurred by the success of India's first exclusive Apple retail store at the
Forum Mall in Bangalore, Ample Technologies has deci-ded to extend its retail
pre-sence to the southern metros of Chennai and Hyderabad. According to Ample
Tech-nologies Director, Rajesh Narang, "We plan to have exclusive stores in
these cities, but on a smaller scale than Bangalore, sometime in mid-2005."

When asked if he planned to expand in the north, he said that given the
company's presence in Bangalore, Chen-nai and Hyderabad, the focus would be on
south India.

While Ample caters to both-the corporate seg-ment as well as individual
users, the former brings in the bulk of the business. However, Rajesh said that
selling to individuals is more gratifying. "Around 80 percent of buyers at
the store are first time us-ers. It is satisfying to add on more Mac
converts," he said.

To boost revenues from the Apple store further, Rajesh plans a special scheme
over Christmas-New Year, in which customers can buy any Apple product by paying
six equal installments over a six-month period through Citibank. 

The Apple store that was started in March 2004 in Bangalore, has on display
the entire range of Apple products and accessories including iMacs, iBooks,
Power-Books and iPods.

Priya Padmanabhan

Bangalore (CyberMedia News)