Apple announced it will launch its first online store in India on September 23, ahead of the festive season in the country.

The US-based company currently sells its products in India through third-party vendors and e-commerce firms such as Amazon.com and Walmart-owned Flipkart. Apple currently has over 500 physical retail stores worldwide.

Apple assembles some smartphones, including the iPhone 11, at Foxconn and Wistron’s plants in two southern Indian states.

Through its online retail platform, Apple online store plans to offer assistance to customers in English and Hindi, while allowing users to engrave their iPads, Apple Pencil and Airpods in English and also in a handful of Indian languages, including Bengali and Gujarati.

“We know our users are relying on technology to stay connected, engage in learning, and tap into their creativity, and by bringing the Apple Store online to India, we are offering our customers the very best of Apple at this important time,” Deirdre O’Brien, senior vice president of Retail + People at Apple, said.

Xiaomi, Samsung, Vivo, Realme and Oppo are the top five smartphone suppliers in India during the second quarter of 2020, according to IDC.

Apple has partnered with Blue Dart to be its on-ground fulfillment partner. Customers can expect safe, contactless deliveries in 24-72 hours from the date of purchase of all premium and new products, including Apple Watch Series 6 and new iPad Air launched earlier this week.

The Apple India store, the 38th online store worldwide, will have specialists to offer expert advice and support to the Indian customers.

Customers can receive guidance directly from Apple, including online support in English and phone support in Hindi and English.

Those who buy Apple products will be eligible for a 30-minute, one-on-one online session with a trained executive to explore more about the device, set it up and or solve any other query.

The online store also provides the ability to custom-configure any Mac with just a few clicks.

With financing options and available trade-in programme, the Apple Store Online offers a range of affordability options.

Students can shop for a Mac or iPad with special pricing, and receive discounts on accessories and Apple Care+ that extends warranty with up to two years of technical support and accidental damage cover.