Myntra.com to shutdown desktop website from May 1

Online shopping websites seem to have a tough competition with rivals in the same segment. With many e-retailers now forcing users to install their app rather than giving their online shopping alternative on the smartphone’s browser, they seem to have something up their sleeve.

Flipkart has been seen forcing their users to download the app if they want to shop using their smartphones. However, in a first move in India, Myntra.com, the well-known fashion e-retailer, has announced that they shall now shut down their website and cater to shopping on smartphones using the mobile app only. Flipkart and Myntra have already shut down their mobile website and continued with the desktop site and mobile app.

The Times of India has reported that Myntra has taken a decision to shut down their website from May 1 and will start selling goods only via the mobile app. This will be the first move, in which, an e-commerce player will be transforming into a mobile-only shopping portal.

Flipkart had acquired Myntra almost a year ago and could follow the same pattern, but seems unlikely for now, at least not until the Myntra plan gives them a good enough success rate.

A 360-degree advertising and marketing campaign has been planned by Flipkart and Myntra to announce its mobile app-only presence. This will be unveiled in a few weeks, sources at The Times of India reported.

At present, Myntra and Flipkart are gaining traffic sales as much as 70 per cent and 60 per cent from their mobile platforms via the apps alone. The move to go completely mobile may change the way people shop online. This could also cause a surge in internet usage amongst smartphone users in India.

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