Apple is learnt to be planning a major foray into India by expanding its market share in smaller towns. In coming months it is going to focus on iPhones, iPads and iPods, to be marketed in stores-within-stores, according to an Economic Times report.

Apple’s rival Samsung is the top smartphone seller in India with a volume share of 36% compared to Apple's 2% in the April-June quarter.

According to the report, Apple is planning to make its presence felt in the smaller towns of the country by opening 100 exclusive "standalone" stores.

It said that India country head Maneesh Dhir and telecom business chief Sanjay Kaul had a meeting with CEOs and senior executives of India's top electronics retails chains to apprise them of the plan.

CEO of one of India's retail chains has been quoted by ET as saying that realizing the need to expand its market share beyond metros, Apple now eyes bigger growth in India.