From Picture Business: India Becoming a Tech Test Pad

As we have reported on the pages of Picture Business magazine in past issues, the country of India is becoming a test bench for both retail and technology-based ideas to see if they gain footing over there before being launched in the U.S.

McDonald’s has recently tested several new ideas for the fast food chain including the addition of several different digital services for customers (a la Starbucks) and several other retailers have (Disney stores among them) tested concept stores in Dubai and other cites in India citing the area’s growing, diverse and tech-savvy population as the perfect testing ground.

Add SanDisk to the list of U.S. companies as the company just announced a duel distribution relationship with Ingram Micro and Rashi Peripherals, one of India’s largest IT distributors, to sell SanDisk products throughout the country. Plans are to start with 2,000 stores in the coming weeks and increase to 14,000-plus by the end of 2007, according to statements released by the participating companies.