NEW DELHI: Apple's Khushboo Ponwar , market development lead for App Store, Apple Music and iTunes , has been directed to focus solely on India , a market with strong growth amid slowing global sales for the Cupertino-based smartphone maker.Previously, Ponwar had been responsible for the App Store, Apple Music and iTunes business in the Middle East, Turkey, Africa and India. Cook also announced an accelerator facility in Bengaluru that would support entrepreneurs and app developers. The rules have since changed.The move came after Apple CEO Tim Cook visited India and opened its new office in Hyderabad, investing about $25 million and creating up to 4,000 jobs.The centre will focus on developing Maps for iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watch. 5 position with a 10.8 per cent share of the smartphones sold in May, down from 12 per cent a year before, according to Counterpoint Technology Market Research. Besides selling iPhones and Macs through resellers, Apple intends to open its iconic retail stores in India.The Indian government has reached out to the company on renewing its application to set up wholly owned stores in the country, after rebuffing it the first time over local-sourcing exemptions.

Source: Economic Times July 07, 2016 20:00 UTC