Google to launch physical retail stores in India by late 2018: Report

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Google is all set to open offline retail stores in India. According to a report by The Economic Times, three people who know about the company’s plans have said that Google is preparing to open its brick-and-mortar stores across the country.

As per ET’s source, Google is considering opening “experience centres” in India. The company is said to have arrived at the decision after receiving a good response to its pop-up stores, which were recently opened in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR malls to exhibit the Google Pixel 2 smartphones.

As per the report, the stores will be opened by Q4 2018 and Google has brought a senior Apple executive onboard for helping them carry out the plans.

The report further states that two renowned malls in India have already received requests from Google for setting up the stores. A senior executive of the mall, where Google previously set up its pop-up store, said, "They got a flavour of how physical stores are also important because you can't explain many of the features online."

The source added that the company had set-up a 'dark room' in order to demonstrate that their Pixel 2 smartphones can take good low-light images. "They got good traction. So, maybe this could (have encouraged Google) for the decision (to open outlets)," the executive added.

Additionally, the source said that the upcoming Google stores will sell the company’s other products alongside the smartphones and one can also expect Google Home speakers, Chromecast, Chromebook laptops and Daydream VR headsets there.

Apart from Google, Apple is also in talks with the government to secure permissions for selling used iPhones imported into the country. The company is also seeking tax reliefs and other concessions for setting up manufacturing facilities in India.