Apple partners with Airtel to bring Apple TV+ and Apple Music to India's streaming market

Apple and Bharti Airtel have announced a strategic partnership to expand Apple's presence in India's entertainment industry.

This move comes not long after reports of Apple planning to begin production of its Pro model phones in India for the first time, reportedly to reduce dependency on China as a producer.

In a press release, Airtel revealed that the collaboration will bring Apple's video and music streaming services, Apple TV+ and Apple Music, to Airtel's premium subscribers.

According to the announcement, Airtel Xstream customers will enjoy top-tier Hollywood and award-winning content on Apple TV+, now included with premium Airtel WiFi and Postpaid plans at no additional cost. Additionally, Airtel users will have access to Apple Music.

To facilitate this partnership, Airtel will discontinue its music app, Wynk Music. All premium subscribers of Wynk Music will be moved to Apple Music and receive exclusive offers from Airtel. Reuters reports that the staff of Wynk Music will be absorbed into its parent company, Airtel.

The press release did not disclose information on how this partnership would benefit either party in terms of revenue or the costs involved. However, it was confirmed that these Apple Music and Apple TV+ offers will become available exclusively to Airtel customers in India later this year.

This partnership could be really beneficial for both companies. For Apple, it provides an opportunity to expand its services in the growing Indian market, complementing its manufacturing plans. For Airtel, it allows them to offer premium content to their customers, potentially attracting new subscribers and enhancing their service offerings.