iPhone 3G starting at $700 in India, lines to be nonexistent
By Darren Murph 
posted August 20th 2008 1:17AM
posted August 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 ($830) for the 16 gigger. Why so [Via Cellpassion]
Which year it will come to China?
For 200$ 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/