Reliance retail finds an ally in Apple.

There are about a 100 million windows users who own iPods. Apples iPod sure has a fan following in India too and is becoming a cult brand. Microsoft recently launched the much hyped Zune player to rival iPod. There are now more than 3,000 accessories available for the iPod since it were launched on Oct 23^rd 2001. To sell its products Apple came up with its own retail chain the Apple iStore. Reliance Retail’s new baby the Reliance Digital has tied up with Apple to launch iStore in India. I saw the second iStore coming up in Hyderabad which intrigued me to search further about it [me being a Microsoft fan]. Reliance plans to start 10 such stores across the nation.

Reliance Retail Ltd (RRL) will set up 150 outlets of ‘Reliance Digital’, its consumer electronic concept mega store, across the country by 2011. After inaugurating Reliance Digital in Banglaore, Ajay Baijal, president and chief executive - Reliance Industries (CDIT Business), said the company would invest around Rs 5-6 crore for an outlet covering approximately 20,000 sq ft. Baijal said the current market size for consumer durable, home IT and telecom stood at Rs 70,000 crore and expected it to grow to Rs 1.4 lakh crore by 2011. The company is eyeing around Rs 20,000 crore business in these segments by 2011, he said.

- www.financialexpress.com

Apple's Massive Glass-Cube iStore -A New World Architecture & Technology Icon

The Apple glass cube crowns an underground store at the hub of what is arguably the world's richest mile of retail emporiums. Having outgrown it's immensely successful SOHO store, Apple's new Fifth Avenue store near New Yorks Plaza Hotel, will introduce a 24/7/365 always open service concept in one of the world's defining lifestyle centers.


Find more about this Retail Landmark here