iPhone 3G starting at $700 in India, lines to be nonexistent
By Darren Murph 
posted Aug 20th 2008 1:17AM
posted Aug 20th 2008 1:17AM
Though we can't definitively say this will end up being the priciest iPhone 3G this side of eBay, there's a good chance it will be. Word has it that Vodafone will be offering up Apple's latest 8GB handset for a mind-boggling Rs 31,000 ($712), or Rs 36,100 ($830) for the 16 gigger. Why so [Via Cellpassion]
I thought a gettin a iPhone. Now its not even remotely possible
what a deal
That's it I'm boycotting the next iPhone........ummm maybe if it has copy and paste ill reconsider.
One of the reasons for the high price is the import duty - other manufacturers get rid of it by making theirs in india
The only reason it's priced this way because India never offers contracts on it's phones.
What was with Jobs saying it'll be $200 everywhere in the world?
As long as we keep sending jobs over there they'll be able to afford it....... Eventually.
36K is like a three month salary in India for a call center job. Maybe Americans should start paying more for the services so that they can afford American phones :)
...or just stop calling Dell support.
"...or just stop calling Dell support."
LMAO
Actually I hate the kind of jobs u guys outsource :( but then again it's employment for this huge "skilled" labour force. I ain't sure how r we gonna be a superpower through such jobs. I sincerely hope all these BPO's KPO's etc cripple and close down here.
I wouldn't want that anyways when there is a Touch Pro.
hahaha
That's cheap for most people in Indian cities who routinely spend like $600 on their cell phones. In India it is all about showing off. There are too many rich people who will buy this as a toy for their kids. There is no limit to money and stupid people back home.
By the way, the concept of ipod is lost in India. Ipod stands for DAP and nobody seem to care that the original ipod is from a company
called Apple. The Apple brand recognition is almost close to zero apart from the techies who know what that company is.
Lot of people like their crackberries. They are waiting more for the crackberry bold than this thing.
But I do expect this thing to be sold like hot cakes back home. Like I said there is no limit to stupid people who will spend $700 on a
cell phone.
Stop speakin rubbish. "That's cheap for most people in Indian cities who routinely spend like $600 on their cell phones." This is not even 1% true.
Adhavan - how do you know? I am in Thailand where $400/month is considered good income. Yet lots of ppl run around with $600 phones, and all phones are unsubsidized and full price. The phone is the most important status symbol, and if western youth save up for a car, the kids here save up / get loans for their mobile.
There's a large upper-middle class who can afford the latest gadgets. Those guys will all consider an iPhone and not be put off by a $700 price tag. And there is the rich elite, the top 3% - they'll all have iPhones or the next super trendy phone in a heartbeat. One for each kid, etc.
To summarize, even if the average income in a country is very low, there's still a very healthy market for high end phones. That's true in Thailand and probably even more so in India which has 20x as many people.
Actually, he is right though. Depends on the demographic you're talkin about. In all the main city areas, people are used to spend way more cash than the actual price for phones. The MINIMUM expense for a good phone is around $700, so they're used to it. And yeah, its going to sell like hell because it already is. Now that its official, no more unlocking or hacking, people will buy it more. There is a lot of demand for the iPhone, because it is well, the iPhone. The 3G network was supposed to roll out in 2008, guess its delayed to 2009. But there is a lot of demand for more sensible phones such as the Omnia, and a hell lot for BB Bold. Touch Diamond has already sold a lot and Touch Pro is going to be a hit as well.
oohhh Adhavan got schooled!
everyone else in this thread is right, though, Adhavan. just so you know.
We are forgetting:
To buy the iPhone outright in Australia Optus want $749/849 for the 8/16GB
Obviously they haven't looked at the Australian prepaid prices. 8GB = $729 16GB=$849 from Optus and Vodaphone is even higher.
To add to that: The whole phone subsidy thing seems to be a very hard concept to wrap one's head around. Even engadget doesn't get it - do you think the iPhone is cheaper in the USA than in India, or in Australia at full price?
No, it's not. You just pay those $700 or most likely even more over 2 years. It's like a loan. Do you go around telling yourself that cars cost $1000 because that's the down payment? Same with a phone.
The charges are just hidden away in the subsidy system. That's because the subsidy doubles as a carrier lock in so the carriers have no interest in offering unsubsidized calling plans - the calling plans if you bring your own phone are in most cases just as expensive as when using a subsidized set. In other words, they are grossly overpriced. There is a certain value attached to the lock-in alone but nowhere near the cost of the subsidy.
If you compare calling costs with other countries where there are no subsidies, you will find that calling rates are a whole lot cheaper in those countries. Because you are not paying back the subsidy.
Rs. 30,000. That's a year wages for some Indians! (Yes, it's not targeted towards them).
Sorry, I replied to the wrong comment. How hard is it to make a commenting system that works?
nikster
Your car analogy breaks down because when you buy a car that is all you are buying. When you buy a phone you are also buying service for that phone.
I don't care what you say- $800 for an iPhone is rape.
You do know that any decent phone costs $500+ unsubsidized? How much are you putting in your phone plan each year?
It's not rape if you're willing to pay. It's called supply and demand, a fundamental law in any economic society. The fact is that if you're willing to spend the money, Apple will gladly sell it to you for a high price. In 2000 I paid AUD800 for a Nokia 8850, because I was willing to buy it. If you can't afford it, then too bad - but time will tell if Apple got it right and feel that another buyer is around the corner. If not, well it's only then that you can say that they got the pricing wrong.
The negative that I see in this is that if the price is high, there is a good chance that the theft of iPhones will increase (especially if they're unlocked).
you should also check out what we have here in the Philippines - they'll be going for around approx $830/$970 for the prepaid kits that come with $22 of credit for anything (spread across 5 months).
http://www.iphone3g.globe.com.ph/i/i?id=2256650
I was about to mention that the Philippine users we're getting raped too but you beat me to it. Although if you think about it, isn't that how much PDAs cost nowadays?
Funny thing is, with the average monthly salary for an office worker in the Philippines being P 20,000 ($ 460 US) you'd still see a lot of people buying them using credit cards with 0% interest over 12 months. All for show I think, for the most part. And it's not a good phone to text with to boot.
The rich elites in India will buy it even if it doesn't have basic phone service.
Wifi is efficient, free or low-cost with skype for example, faster than 3G and available everywhere in indian cities
Isn't that true for *all* "rich elites"?
Are you kidding me?! $830?
Vodafone / Apple need to seriously get their nuts squeezed.
Its pretty much clear that most ppl who would have had iPhone in India would not have liked it, unless jailbroken, simply because we are so not used to crippled services. Thankfully TRAI does a phenomenal job of protecting consumer interests. Nokia definitely rocks in the Indian market
India doesn't even have a 3G network! I don't see huge demand in the iphone in India
The lack of 3G didn't stop Americans buying the original iPhone.
Yes but you have to realise most people who buy the iPhone in India won't buy it for it's additional functionality; they will buy for the bragging rights and the status symbol that comes associated with it.
Enough with the "rich and famous people will buy it anyways" comments. What about the not so rich and famous people? There are plenty of them over here!!!. I had heard rumors that it was gonna be 550$....guess they were just rumors. At 700$ a piece, its a total rip-off.
Will wait for some android one. htc/samsung.
Without 3G there is no I to that phone. Still affordable for as many Indians as anywhere.
This is what vodafone sent me:
“The iPhone 3G is available in 8GB and 16GB at Rs 31,000 and Rs 36,100 respectively. And as you have already pre-registered with us, you can get it before others do. All you need to do is drop in at a select Vodafone Store between August 20 and 21 and confirm your booking by paying Rs 10000 through cash or credit card. Don’t forget to show the iPhone booking SMS, which you would have received from us, when you visit the Vodafone Store to make the deposit.”
I was willing to pay upto 18k.
But, even at 31k, it will sell. People paid upto 40k when the n95 when it was launched last year. Which reminds me, the n96 was launched in India yesterday. They have started taking orders and it will be on the shelves in a few days. The prices haven't been announced, but it's expected to be around the 35k range.
In Belgium the iPhone costs 525eur for the 8gb model. They are also not subsidized because of local laws.
http://iphone3g.mobistar.be/nl/iphone3g.cfm
So that is actually more than 700usd for the iPhone here.
But of course this must mean a hell a lot more in India given the economy/wages there.
The cheapest pre-paid iPhone I could find anywhere is being sold in Switzerland. It costs 519 CHF which is roughly 472 dollars. Not a shabby deal if you ask me.
How about a magic trick?
I'm going to make this iPhone disappear... WHACK!
yup, as i'd expected it to be priced in india, $ 700/800. iphone's subsidized in the US, in india only the cheapest of cdma phones come subsidized slightly. that is cus the average monthly usage bill across india might be around $20-40 at the most, or even lesser, also there are no locked in contracts, nobody would go for them. and there's no 3G, though a few metros might get it eventually. still a whole buncha peeps will buy it for showing off value of a slick gizmo. a whole lot own the 1st gen iphone, right from whitin a month's launch way back, unlocked with turbo sim, from china. thankfully, though i'm getting a free, hand-me-down, unlocked 1st gen iphone. it'll sync with my mbp is the eason i'm getting it. either ways 3G iphone here is a bum deal. i mean sold at same price one gets unlocked iphones, but still locked it (i think) and...no 3G
>>there's not even a 3G highway up and running in India
[there's not even a 3G highway up and running in India]
never mind, 3G does not work in iPhone anyway, by the time it works, India will have 3G
This is stupidity. Only rich idiots would pay Rs 31k for a 3G phone when no 3G is available. If you are really crazy about the apple mantra, better get a ipod touch.
Anyway, there are lot of iphone fakes doing brisk business in India. So you can't even flaunt it, most of them will be mistaken as a cheap china phone.
Why do rich pay this much? most of Indian people have someone in the US who can buy it cheaper..
there's not even a 3G highway up and running in India]
It appears that the 3G iPhone does not come with a 3G chipset so they should be OK, Apple have promised to deliver one soon......:)
Which year it will come to China?
For 200$ in US with extra 20$ a month, iPhone at the end of 2 year costs 680$. In the states there is lots of use for the data features of the phone. In India it cost may be slightly more, but usability of data features is almost NIL. I am having Airtel GPRS unlimted scheme for Rs100 a month($2.5). Even with such a low cost nobody subsribes to them. Even the networks sell the idea of data lesser.
May be with 3G things may change. Also Indians are much attracted towards a camera rather than iPod/Data. iPhone is very very weak in this. But there are always people who buy apple products just to show off. A HIP advertising campaign will sell a lot of iPhones. But the truth is there are Sony Ericcson / Motorola phones which cost less than half and provide same usability in India. I have ROKR E6 and am very happy with it.
Well, it gets better. Look at their outrageous iPhone data plans! Even at INR 1000 per month, the amount of data transfer you get is 650MB.
http://vodafone.in/iphone/pages/iPhoneplans.aspx
given the lightning fast edge network, 650mb should be sufficient.
What's is the Hindi translation for that's some ole bullshit?
translation - "saand ka hugga" lolz :P
Interesting comments!!! Here's my take. When Apple launched its iPod in India at Rs 20000/- + a few years ago, there were very few takers. When MS launched the XBox in India at Rs 35000/- + there were very few takers. Over time the prices rationalised and now, yes almost every 3rd person who can afford it has some sort of iPod.(Now Rs 11000/- for classic and Rs 15000/- for Touch; Rs 2300/- for Shuffle). Actually given the price of the iPhone it would make more sense to buy the iPod Touch + the HTC Touch phone (Rs 17000/-) and pay less than the asking price for the iPhone. Its not that the service providers will provide any 3G features anyway. In fact the email I received from Vodaphone was interesting as it had this in the fine print
Select features and services are currently available in India.
3G features can be used on 3G networks while roaming abroad
Also one should really look at the Touch Diamond (Rs 27000/-) and Sony Ericsson X1 Xperia (to be released) as alternative options. And of course the Nokia N96 to be released around the same time. Not to forget the iPhonies from the grey market.
Everyone's forgotten BELGIUM?
We have Eur 525 and Eur 625 for the two iPhones. Still, the phones were sold out and Mobistar has to make people wait for the next batch to come.
Well in the Philippines it's :
8 GB P37,599 = $854
16 GB P43,799 = $995
Globe Telecoms = Rip Off.
Actually I was hoping the phone is expensive so that I am amongst the elite group of ppl to own it :) since I can afford it. Now going over the specs and prices of other phones and considering that there won't be 3G in India until next year at least..... I don't wanna be in the elite group of assholes or stupid mac fanboys buying overly priced iPhone.
I think I'd wait for the offcicial price tag of N96.... being a geek features do matter to me.
Anyways the price tag is gonna come down, the only reason these guys quoted such huge prices due to huge public interest during iPhone registration. They expect that to convert to actual deals after this? You gotta be kidding me!!
dont worry guys....
even in US they did the same
they launched it for $599/699(4GB/8GB)
then reduced it to $399/499(8GB/16GB)
then finally.....$199/$299(8GB/16GB)
its gonna come down. hopefully before the yr end. ;)
Nan bread and Iphones don't mix. to many finger prints. although it is vegetarian.
mmmmmm.... garrrrlic naannnnn!
Thanks engadget for choosing my lunch menu!
can anyone actually tell me a good reason to buy an iphone? all this makes absolutely no sense to me...
They must be selling it unlocked and without contract?
Most phones in India are unlocked.
No, the airtel fine print says this in caps, the phone is locked onto the airtel nework
About 75% of Indians didn't know about Apple before the i pod became a hit. My office colleague is over 30 years old married with two kids and he didn't know the difference between a fake and real i pod until i showed my real one last week so that he could find out the difference between his fake and mine. He heard about the i phone and he was asking me about the price. He saw the 2mp camera, touchscreen and said no features at all and guessed the price will be Rs.15 to 20k since it is is imported. If it was launched at that price range people like him would have brought it since he earns around 40k per month.
He would have had no idea about its shortcomings or wouldn't have cared about the lack of 3g since we work in the telecom industry and we know when it will actually come. Our mobile bills are paid by our company like is the case in most organizations in India nowadays. If apple had targeted people like him they would have become even more popular and people would realize what the company actually stands for and what it means to pay those extra money for an apple product. Now the image they are going to create is one in which apple products will be viewed as ridiculously expensive for a bag full shit.
Apple's latest 8GB handset for a mind-boggling Rs 31,000 ($712)
What? You think that's "mind-boggling?" Come live Down Under for a while... they're around $AU750 locked to Optus. We ain't even a 3rd world country too.
In Norway the iPhone will cost you up to $900if you break the contract with the provider - Netcom. The say the phone is virtually free to receive for the 8GB version, as long as you stick to the expensive monthly subscription of NOK 1099 ~USD 210$ and 12 month tie down... If you break the contract they charge you 3500NOK ~USD 665$ for breaking the contract + 1 month subs fee of NOK 1099~USD 210$
This means you end up paying NOK 4599~USD 875$
So I guess Norway wins for having the most expensive iPhone so far ... (not sure this is something to be happy about ...)
In the same India i can get a cheaper china made HiPhone or CECT which has many features iPhone misses for Rs 6600 (around $150) ;-)
Check it out: http://shopping.rediff.com/shop/productdisplay.jsp?prrfnbr=10290711&source=browse&frompg=tab-banner
Ouch But they Offer the same CRAP here in the Philippines P35,000 = $700+ for the 8giger and more for the 16gb... and I thought it was suppose to be CHEAPER AND FASTER. :/
in the Philippines,
for prepaid: 48,000 pesos for 16Gb, 41,000 for 8 Gb (at 44.5 pesos:$1, that would be $1,078 for the 16Gb, $921 for 8 Gb)
for postpaid: free for Plan 5000; Plan 1599 (with 40 hrs of 3G access): 22, 300 for 16Gb, 16,800 for 8 Gb
For $700 they should have it sold unlocked.
I think this will be roughly the same price in South Africa... I'm curious to find out the price, if it worth any to upgrade from my *cough* unlocked 1st Gen.
Let's wait to see how much will it cost when it comes to Brazil; Probably we will be bound to a one-year contract and cost about the same thing as on India, if not more.
friggin charlatans!
there are definitley a few people in india here or there willing to blow 32k on an iphone, if you've got it you definitly flaunt it.
Yeah, just got a text message from Vodafone. However, AirTel is going to release it for a lower price.....
Dark Knight FTW!
Now with the iPhone 3G, it would be cheaper to buy in US and send to India.
$299 (16 GB) + $70 (first month bill) + $175(early termination fee) + $35 (activation) = $580 ( $250 saved).
Alright, I own the original iPhone, pwned. I am having huge issues with the headphone jack and speakers. I will be buying the white 3G. Here is why, It has warranty, it does not need to be unlocked. These two reasons make life easy for iPhone users. Trust me. As for the price, its worth it to pay extra rather then unlocking it, as you get warranty guys, I was expecting it to cost 25'000 for 16GB but thats alright, Anyone expecting it to cost cheap was stupid considering the Subsidies offered with att.
As for the whole people can afford it or not question. Well, I think 30% of the people who pre registered, can afford it, I think thats sounds right to me.
What most people don't realize is there is a significant difference between the mobile phone market in Indian and the US. There is no concept of a locked phone or carrier subsidies so it is quite common for people to pay $600+ for phones such as the Nokia N95, Nokia Communicator, HTC Touch, Diamond. As you all know all these phones are 3G phones but that does'nt stop people from buying them.
Secondly most people do not subscribe to a data plan. It is more about have a cool phone than services and frankly they do so cause they don't really need it.
It is just going to be another high end phone in the Indian market which will probably demolish the competition. And no you do not have to be a millionaire to afford it.
lol i bought a iphone 8gb in jan for 23k from mumbai.
they even sold it for as much as 35-40k for the 4gb ones and ppl bought it.
Its india the number of ppl earning 2000$+ (80k inr ) per month is easily more than the population
of a lot of countries ....everything sells here from Ferrari to Fiat
Vodaphone and Airtel are smart coz they know for sure eventually the 3g will filter into the gray market scene
and there is no point in vouching for a 2 years subscription in India where the govt proposes number portability when you
switch operators :P
Well i woudnt spend $712 for the product that is sold as 3g mobile but doesnt have a 3g network in india it doesent make any sense.
Although Airtel/Vodafone are said to not subsidize the phone, they have special "iphone plans" which are exorbitant bringing the effective price of an iphone wayyy up..
check out the table in this article: http://www.mobiletechblog.com/2008/10/21/how-apple-airtel-and-vodafone-are-ripping-off-indian-iphone-users/