Reliance has inked a deal with Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) for opening Apple Stores in India, reports ET. 10 standalone iStores will be launched by the end of the year, starting starting with Bangalore around October-end - just in time for Diwali (Nov 9). The store is apparently already under construction, and will be spread over 2000 sq feet. Readers should bear in mind that this is the Mukesh Ambani group which owns Reliance Retail, and not the Anil Ambani Reliance group which owns telecom operations in India. It perhaps wont be long then, before we see legit iPhones in India. Hacked iPhones, meanwhile, proliferate: I’m currently working out of a cybercafe, and a twenty something chap just took out an iPhone to show off to his friends here.

• Apple In Talks With Reliance Retail For Apple Store