Google begins direct online sales of Pixel phones in India

NEW DELHI, May 29 (Reuters): Google on Thursday began direct online sales of its popular hardware devices in India, including Pixel phones, watches and earbuds, ahead of an anticipated launch of its first physical stores in the South Asian nation.

The Alphabet -owned firm said it has for the first time enabled direct online purchases for Indian users on the official Google Store website. The company currently sells it products in India through authorised retailers and via Walmart-backed e-commerce platform Flipkart.

Apple, its bigger rival in the premium smartphone category, already sells its phones directly to Indian users, and operates its own retail stores in Mumbai and in New Delhi, with more planned.

Google is close to deciding on locations in India where it will open its first physical retail stores outside the United States, Reuters reported in February.