iPhoneIndiaBlog.com

24 Aug

Why You Should Buy iPhone for Rs.31,000 ($720)

Posted on 2008 under AppStore, Free Apps, Paid Apps, iPhone Duniya, iTunes | 41 Comments

(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)

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Ok, this might sound a bit weird. But I am going to try to explain why one should be buy iPhone 3G for Rs.31,000 ($720) if he is from India. And why he should no look for reasons to buy iPhone 3G for Rs.8,500 ($199) in the US and bring it to India hoping that it would be unlocked and jailbroken easily. Here is my reasoning..

Before I put it all up, I would like to reiterate that I’m not new to this iPhone world. I had bought the 1st gen iPhone way back in Nov 2007 and have been using the unlocked version right from then. I sold it in June 2008 for Rs.16,000 ($400) expecting that iPhone 3G might be priced less than $200 and I thought, I would then buy it in the US and bring it back to India. Then I bought another one from eBay on 11th July when I realized that iPhone 3G is subsidized only to AT&T customers and its officially going to come to India very soon. And just 3 days back I bought iPhone 3G locked to Airtel India and was amongst the first buy iPhone 3G in Bangalore, India :), read more. I have been using this awesome awesome 3G version from past 3 days now and I am totally convinced that this iPhone 3G should be bought in India and through Airtel/Vodafone only. And why 31k is justified fully. Let me begin:

1. iPhone 3G costs Rs.31,000 ($720) in India. The price is almost the same in any other country where iPhone has been released and is not subsidized by a local Service Provider.
2. iPhone 3G is the cheapest in the US @ Rs.8,500 ($199). This is because of one big reason. AT&T has the exclusive right to sell iPhone 3G in the US and one has to commit for a 2 year contract before purchasing iPhone in the US. Now what does this mean, let me explain:
   • On an average mobile phone users have to commit for 1 to 2 year contract with a service provider to get mobile instruments at a subsidized rate. This helps the service provider and the instrument maker to recover the cost in splits over a longer time duration.
   • On an average, a mobile user will have to pay $40-$60 per month for 2 years minimum, if he buys iPhone 3G from AT&T. Here is the rate plan on AT&T website, read AT&T plans (type 33311 as zip code if asked).
     So if we take an average of $40 per month which Rs.1720, it comes to Rs.20640 per year. Here you are paying around Rs.8,500($199) + Rs.20,640($480) = Rs.29,197($679) at the end of first year. And this is not the end of it, you will have to keep paying till you want to use iPhone 3G.
3. You must be thinking, why should I commit to pay AT&T for 2 years. I can very well ask my cousin/friend living in the US to buy iPhone @ Rs.8,500($199) and break the AT&T contract and send the iPhone to India. Here is the catch:
   • iPhone 3G with 2 yr contract - $199 ($299 for 16GB)
     + $36 - Activation
     + $175 - Early Termination Fee
     + $70 - One month of service
   • So… 8GB iPhone Canceled: $480
     16GB iPhone Canceled: $580
     This excludes sales tax on iPhone. So add another $20-$35 more.
     Therefore you end up pay ~$520 for 8GIG iPhone 3G which comes to Rs.22,360.

Read more… »

Tags: 31000, iPhone, AppStore, Airtel

23 Aug

Airtel claims no hacker in the world can crack iPhone 3G

Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya | 8 Comments

(2 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)

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Engadget has this covered this time, saying that Airtel India has claimed that no hacked in the world can hack iPhone 3G. Here is what it says - “Even the most deadly hackers on the planet won’t be able to crack the codes that support the iPhone’s Airtel applications with rival company SIMs.”

Bharti Airtel has worked very closely with Apple to develop “OPERATOR-SPECIFIC IPHONE APPLICATIONS”, as mentioned by Engadget.

[via - Engadget]

20 Aug

Airtel and Vodafone put up iPhone 3G price - Rs.31,000

Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya | 47 Comments

(6 votes, average: 1.33 out of 5)

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Airtel has updated its iPhone 3G page. Sad news is that Airtel too has priced iPhone 3G’s at Rs.31,000. Here are the page details:

Airtel Users:
http://www.airtel.in/iphone3g/

Q: What is the price of iPhone?

• 8 GB (Black) for Rs 31000
• 16GB (White & Black) for Rs 36100

Q: Can I use another SIM of Airtel with this Handset?

• Yes you can.

Q: Where can I buy iPhone?

• You can buy iPhone from Airtel stores. For further details click here

To find a Airtel Store - click here

Vodafone Users:
http://www.vodafone.in/iphone/Pages/iPhone_details.aspx?cid=kar

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.

To book iPhone with Vodafone - click here

6 Aug

Confirmed - iPhone 3G coming to India on 22nd Aug - Bharti Airtel (UPDATED)

Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya | 16 Comments

(7 votes, average: 4.86 out of 5)

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Breaking News - Economic Times has just confirmed that iPhone 3G will be launched at the stroke of midnight on August 21st. If you have been following this post, you would realise how big this news is for so many users of this blog. So cheers guys, iPhone 3G is coming to India on the 22nd August which is just 14 days from now. Airtel is going to bring iPhone to India as per this report on Economic Times. Earlier it was thought that only Vodafone would bring iPhone 3G first and Airtel would then follow after 15 days of Vodafone launch. It might happen that Vodafone and Airtel might launch this phone on the same day.

Anyways, lets rejoice this great news. Here is the excepts from Economic Times article published just a while back:

iPhone 3G will be available to Indian mobile users through Bharti Airtel at the stroke of midnight on August 21. Millions of Airtel subscribers will be able to purchase the iPhone at Airtel’s Relationship Centres from August 22, a company statement said here. Asked at what price it will be available, Bharti Airtel officials declined to give details.

“iPhone has been an iconic technological revelation of this year and Airtel has been at the forefront of innovation and customer delight in the Indian telecom sector,” Sanjay Kapoor, President, Bharti Airtel mobile services, said.

[via - Economic Times ]

UPDATE - Was watching NDTV Profit a while back and found this very iPhone 3G news flashing. Sanjay Kapoor from Airtel, was being interviewed by a reporter. He talked about the launch date and all about 3G in India. Features of iPhone 3G etc..etc.. Very cool stuff. Check out NDTV Profit by this evening and you might get to see this interview. 21st August midnight is confirmed guys!!!

UPDATE 2 - Tech2.com has covered this news as well - click here

UPDATE 3 - Bharti Airtel has this news flashing on its website - here

UPDATE 4 - iPhone 3G is going to cost Rs.31,000 for 8G, its official - click here

More about Airtel and Vodafone India

30 Jul

Zee Business confirms 22nd Aug as the launch date for iPhone 3G in India - Price Rs.24,000 ($570)

Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya | 49 Comments

(5 votes, average: 4.8 out of 5)

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Thanks to Gaurav again for sharing this breaking news. Zee business exclusive news has just covered iPhone launch date and price that would be applicable to India. Vodafone would be launching iPhone 3G in India anywhere between 22nd to 26th August & it will be unsubsidized version & the greatest news is that iPhone will cost Rs.24,000 ($570) for 8GB version.

This puts an end to so many rumors floating around from last 2 weeks.

More about Airtel and Vodafone India

UPDATE - Airtel confirms on 22nd August launch :)). Check out this post.

29 Jul

iPhone 3G in India would cost Rs.13,000 ($310) - to be launched on 18 Aug.

Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya | 17 Comments

(8 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)

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I shared this bit of information from Tech2.com last weekend and now comes another one from the same website. Tech2.com is a part of Network 18 group in India and is provides pretty authentic news. This one though is not fully confirmed by these guys, but still I would love to see iPhone being sold for Rs.13000 ($310) in India. Here is what Tech2.com has to say:

Some more info to come floating out of the rumor mill is that the price of the phone bundled with Vodafone will be around Rs 13,000 for the 8GB model. My common sense says to believe this rumor only when it’s confirmed, because it does seem too low a price for the iPhone 3G bundled with a plan.

[via - Tech2.com]

More about Airtel and Vodafone India

27 Jul

iPhone 3G will be officially launched in India on August 18

Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya | 10 Comments

(6 votes, average: 4.83 out of 5)

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This is just the news we all have been waiting for. Thanks to Gaurav who share with us this information on Tech2.com. Vodafone will officially launch iPhone 3G in India on the 18th of August. And Airtel will launch 15 days later, i.e., on the 1st of September.

The pricing details haven’t been shared by either Airtel nor Vodafone yet.

[via - Tech2.com]

More about Airtel and Vodafone India

6 Jul

Book your iPhone with Airtel Now

Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya | 2 Comments

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Just a while back, I got this mail from Airtel India, with the subject ‘The iPhone you’ve been waiting for‘.

When I opened the mail, I felt ecstatic. This is what I got to see:

But when I clicked on ‘Book your iPhone now’, I was completely disappointed. The same form which asked me to fill up the details turned up. It was just a form and there was no mention of how to book the iPhone. Nor was there any mention of date of release or any price info.

Airtel, we all are waiting for iPhone rate and plan details. Are you listning?

25 Jun

Vodafone India has lauched its first iPhone 3G advertisement campaign

Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya | 2 Comments

(4 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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When I checked Times of India (TOI) this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see Vodafone’s iPhone 3G advertisement right on the top the first page of the newspaper. TOI is amongst the largest circulating news paper in India. This ad talks about booking 3G iPhone and reserving the iPhone handset by sending an SMS ‘IPHONE’ to 56789 from any Vodafone handset . There is no mention of the launch date nor any detail on different plans for iPhone.

It’s still not clear if Vodafone will be offering subsidized iPhones to Indians (might cost anywhere between Rs. 9000 to Rs. 14000) or unsubsidized iPhones (anywhere between Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 28,000)

Here is the ad for all you iPhone followers in India. This ad has been designed by O&M India:

If Vodafone customers don’t want to send expensive SMS’s, please click here to directly fill in the their details and get notified about the launch and other informations peprtaining to iPhone 3G in India.

And if you are a Airtel customer; to receive more information on iPhone 3G, send an SMS with keyword “iPhone” to 54321 (toll-free).

Airtel has online form which could filled as well - Click here to access Airtel’s 3G Iphone registration page.