iPhone In India In September?
Business Standard reports, quoting “Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) retail sources” that the iPhone will be launched in India the first week of September with Vodafone (NYSE: VOD). We have not been able to confirm this independently, so it’s anybodys guess. However, readers might remember this story from BS about the Google Mobile Phone being launched in India. Ironically, that launch was supposed to happen in September as well (last year), and we know that never happened.
As per the story, the 8GB version of the iPhone will be launched in September 2008, at a rather high price of Rs. 27000-28000 ($680-700), much above its $399 (Rs. 15960) price tag. Compared to that, unlocked iPhones are fairly common now in Indian metros, with the 8GB costing between Rs. 18,000-21,000 ($450-$525); Cerius bought a 16 GB version recently for Rs. 21,000 ($525). The story also claims that an exclusive deal is being worked out with Vodafone for India - though I don’t see how Voda will be able to lock-in customers. If the launch does happen, lets just hope that the existing unlocked iPhones in India don’t get bricked just to make that exclusive deal count. I know a few Vodafone subscribers who wouldn’t be too happy. More as we have it.
Posted In: Companies, Apple, Vodafone, Countries, Asia, India, iphone
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Comments (1)
Apr 17, 2008 5:40 AM
Any Apple fanboy will tell you this is all rumor and conjecture. There is a whole industry around Apple rumors and most fail at getting it right. Look at the MacBook Air, the rumors started swirling 36 hours before the launch and even then people were panning it.
I love to speculate as well, but I’m pretty sure India will not be the first country in the Asia Pacific region to get the iPhone. But then again what do I know, but it sure is fun to speculate!
Apr 17, 2008 6:05 AM
I assume BS has at least got their name right - “BS” all the way ;-)
Jun 27, 2008 8:37 AM
Man its not a rumor!!
Go chk the Vodafone india site and you will know!!!
Dont say shit when u dont know about anything
Jun 29, 2008 2:35 AM
Hey Gaurav…. chill down!!!
The guy before you had posted the comment in April 2008!!!
Apple announce its plans for the iPhone in June 2008. Well, I had a look at the Keynote and the iPhone 2.0 was a gr8 upgrade but the asians and particularly Indians would have wanted some other upgrades rather than the ones that were actually done.
Apple should have known that coming to asia, small things like a better camera, camera flash light, fm receiver, sms forwarding do go a mile in appealing to the people. there r a lot of other phones which give these features for a like price.
talking about price, with a 50% reduction in the iphone prices, I feel that ignoring all the “non-upgrades”, its gonna b a hot-seller in asia for its 8GB / 16 GB flash drives…..
i sure am waiting for mine. in fact, i am even switching networks (against my will) just to be on the iPhone as i am not a big fan of buying pirated / unlocked stuff. if u paying the whole buck, u might as well get the whole thing…... ;-)
Jul 29, 2008 8:20 AM
gr8 phone for me i want that as early as possible.