25
Mar
Posted on 2010 under Apple |
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Last week Airtel formally announced that its going to sell iPhone 3GS in India very soon, and was covered here. And yesterday, Airtel tweeted this:
The phone will be available from 35,500 rupees ($784) for the 16 GB model, and 41,500 rupees for the 32GB model, Bharti Airtel said.
Customers of iPhone 3GS will get 500 MB of free data every month for a year from the date of activation, the leading Indian mobile operator said. ($1=45.3 rupees)
[via - Reuters]
Tags:
india,
Airtel
20
Mar
Posted on 2010 under Apple |
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After iPhone 3G’s dismal performance in the Indian sub-continent way back in 2008, Apple seemed to have lost interest in selling iPhone 3GS in India. Even though 3GS was launched worldwide way back in August 2009, Airtel and Vodafone dint get rights to sell iPhone 3GS their Indian customers for almost eight months. And now Airtel gets to sell iPhone 3GS in India. The formal launch dates havent yet been announced. Airtel will sell pre-locked iPhone 3GS this time as well. That would mean that buyers will be able to use only Airtel SIM cards.
Now that Apple is planning to launch 4th Gen iPhones (4G) sometime this June (rumor) in the US, they would want to dump iPhone 3GS to Indian mobile users. Not fair Steve Jobs.
Anyways, Macworld has shared this article that says Airtel has finally announced they will be bringing the iPhone 3GS to India:
On Friday, Bharti Airtel announced in a concisely worded press release that it had struck a deal with Apple to bring the latest version of Apple’s smartphone to India “in the coming months.”
A newly updated section of the Airtel Website provides answers to some questions, making it clear that the company will continue to sell the 8GB version of the iPhone 3G in the country alongside the new 8GB and 16GB 16GB and 32GB variants of the iPhone 3GS, which will be available only at the network’s own stores.
Here is the details of the announcement on Airtel website:
New Delhi, March 19, 2010 : Bharti Airtel and Apple have reached an agreement to bring iPhone 3GS, the fastest most powerful iPhone yet, to India in the coming months. For information please visit www.airtel.in/iphone3gs. For more information on iPhone, please visit www.apple.com/iphone.
Macworld shares more insights on why this delay happened:
Originally introduced by Apple in June 2009, the iPhone 3GS was scheduled for an Indian launch (along with 31 other countries) in August last year, but it failed to make an appearance on Indian shores as scheduled. Seven months later we finally have the first official murmurings of the device coming to India.
Most of the criticisms of the iPhone 3G in India—locked to a carrier, extremely high price, not officially supported by Apple, and lack of a 3G network—will probably continue to plague the iPhone 3GS. And given the widespread assumption that a new iPhone is just a few months away, the 3GS’s eventual appearance in India may be too little, too late.
[via - Macworld]
Tags:
Airtel,
india
18
Jun
Posted on 2009 under Firmware Versions |
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AWESOME. I just started testing this 3.0 OS on my iPhone 3G. Its response time is definitely faster. The Spotlight works damn well. I just MMS’ed, it works beautifully with my Airtel SIM. Too cool. Let me quickly share this MMS screenshot:
Tethering works on Airtel as well. Smooth 
). I can now tether my iPhone 3G with my Laptop using the same Airtel connection. And the best thing about these great features is that I dont have to pay even a single paisa (penny) to Airtel . No extra charges for MMS and nothing for Tethering. But I will be paying for the data download. BTW, here is my iPhone-Dell Laptop tethering screenshot:
Read more… »
Tags:
MMS,
Tethering,
Airtel
10
Jun
Posted on 2009 under iPhone Duniya |
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During the WWDC 2009 keynotes, Apple announced that the new iPhone 3GS will hit Indian Airtel and Vodafone stores in August. The date of launch wasn’t mentioned during the keynotes, but I have been told from a reliable source that the launch date might most probably be on 9th of August 2009. Check this keynotes screenshot:
Coming to the $99 8GB iPhone story. This price band will be applicable in the US only. India will not see 8GB iPhone post iPhone 3GS launch and will not get Rs.15,000 iPhone. Simply because Apple is not looking at mass promoting iPhones in India. It wants to keep the exclusivity factor alive in India, even if that amounts to lesser sale. There would be only 2 versions, 16GB and 32GB versions with white and black option.
Airtel will continue to sell iPhone 3GS 16GB for Rs.31,000 (US$660) and 32GB for Rs.36,100 (US$770). Vodafone India might sell these 2 versions at Rs.1,500-2500 cheaper rate.
Tags:
Airtel,
Vodafone,
iPhone 3GS,
bharti,
Vodafone India
24
Aug
Posted on 2008 under AppStore, Free Apps, Paid Apps, iPhone Duniya, iTunes |
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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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
Airtel,
iPhone,
31000,
AppStore
23
Aug
Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya |
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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]
Tags:
Airtel,
iPhone 3G,
hacker iphone india
20
Aug
Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya |
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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?
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
Tags:
Airtel,
31000,
Vodafone,
iphone india
6
Aug
Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya |
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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
Tags:
Vodafone,
iphone india,
22 august,
Airtel
30
Jul
Posted on 2008 under iPhone Duniya |
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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.
Tags:
iphone india,
22 august,
Vodafone,
Airtel
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