At the WWDC Keynote, I clearly saw the Bharti Logo being flashed when Steve Jobs announced his plans of launching the iPhone 3G in 70 countries including India. This left no room of doubt that Bharati Telecom (the parent company of Airtel) would be the official carriers of the iPhone in India. Rumor had it in a post on Engadget posted a couple of months prior to the WWDC, that Vodafone had acquired the rights to be the official carriers of the iPhone.
And then this happened. The Front page of Times of India on 25th of June’08
Vodafone announced this. (Pic after the Jump).
Apparently, Vodafone India’s site has opened its pre booking for the iPhone 3G. And well, in answer, Airtel has as well begun its pre-booking page as well. And again, if it is going to be totaly unlocked, or going to be launched on two carriers? And if totaly unlocked, is the 199$ promise going to be kept as promised by Mr.Jobs? Too many questions. Economic Times released an article on 28th of June stating that the 199$ subsidised price of the new iPhone 3G might not be the selling price here in India. There are a few fair points but still we would like to believe in what Steve quoted “The price is a maximum of $199 all around the world — we’re really, really excited about the new iPhone 3G”. The answer is only gonna be revealed when the official India release date is announced. And that is NOT July 11th.
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Author: Sujoy
Hey Techkeyla… nice blog.
As per my sources, Airtel and Vodafone would be launching iPhone 3G by mid-october 2008. And it will not cost $199 for sure. Since there are no subscription based plans in India, Apple will be selling unsubsidized iPhones in India. And it would cost anywhere between Rs.32000 to Rs.35000 for an 8GB version.
Not 100% sure. But most probably this would the scene of iPhones in India.
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Read the article from Times Of India today. It is pretty much clear that the iPhone 3G is not going to be sold at 8,000 INR. FOR SURE
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It is gonna be good if its gonna be totaly unlocked like in Europe. But for sure it will not be subsidised as in the At&T plan
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Hi all
So, finally comapny understood mindset and problem of common man of not want to spend such a big amount of Rs. 31000/36000 to buy an iphone and made it available through EMI with tying up with few banks. I saw this info on iphone section of airtel site (http://www.airtel.in/iphone3g)
Rajiv
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Hi,
Lot and lot of people are cursing themselves not to having that of much amount and missing their desire to have iphone. Seriously price is really high, but recently came to know that Airtel has tied up with banks to provide iphone with easy EMI option. It can be checked at:
http://www.airtel.in/iphone3g
Hitesh
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