Google Begins Direct Online Sales of Pixel Phones in India

The new Pixel 9 smart phone series is displayed at a Made by Google event in Mountain View, California, US August 13, 2024. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo
The new Pixel 9 smart phone series is displayed at a Made by Google event in Mountain View, California, US August 13, 2024. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo
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Google Begins Direct Online Sales of Pixel Phones in India

The new Pixel 9 smart phone series is displayed at a Made by Google event in Mountain View, California, US August 13, 2024. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo
The new Pixel 9 smart phone series is displayed at a Made by Google event in Mountain View, California, US August 13, 2024. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo

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 its products in India through authorized 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.

In launching the physical stores, Google has sought to mirror a retail approach that helped Apple Inc rake in billions of dollars in the last two decades by showcasing its own products. Apple has 500 plus stores worldwide.

Pixel phones in India cost from about $360 to $1,900 for top-end models. Apple's iPhones cost from about $520-$2,100. Google has also started making Pixel smartphones in India.

In 2024, Apple dominated the local market for premium phones, priced above $520, with a roughly 55% share, compared with Pixel's 2% share, estimates from research group Counterpoint showed. The fast-growing Indian market has about 712 million smartphone users currently.



KFSHRC Performs World’s First Robotic-Assisted BiVAD Implantation

The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA
The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA
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KFSHRC Performs World’s First Robotic-Assisted BiVAD Implantation

The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA
The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA

‏King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) in Riyadh has performed the world’s first implantation of two artificial pumps for biventricular support (BiVAD-HMIII) using robotic technology on a patient with advanced heart failure.

According to a press release, this groundbreaking procedure opens new horizons in circulatory support techniques for patients with complex cardiac conditions, marking a significant medical achievement that culminated in the patient’s recovery within a short period following the surgery.

‏The procedure represents a major advancement in the treatment of bilateral heart failure, which was traditionally performed through full sternotomy, an approach associated with higher surgical risks and prolonged recovery.

The cardiac surgery team at KFSHRC, led by Prof. Feras Khaliel, successfully performed the operation through small incisions using remotely controlled high-precision robotic arms, resulting in reduced blood loss, lower risk of infection, and faster patient recovery.

The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies, real-time surgical navigation, and innovative solutions for safely securing the mechanical assist devices, added the release.

‏KFSHRC aims to publish the results of this procedure in peer-reviewed medical journals and present them at global cardiology conferences to promote knowledge exchange and establish innovative partnerships with leading international centers in robotic care and advanced heart failure management.

According to SPA, these milestones serve as evidence of its leadership in adopting cutting-edge cardiac technologies and managing critical conditions with the highest standards of precision and safety, further reinforcing its position as a leading academic medical center both regionally and globally.