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iPhone to be launched on Aug 22 in India
By
siliconindia news bureau
New Delhi: Finally the D-Day is nearing. Apple fans in India have got a reason to cheer. Reason: Airtel and Vodafone will launch the iPhone 3G in India on August 22.
This is the first time Apple, creator of the Jesus phone called iPhone, has partnered with two different operators in the same country to launch its latest gizmo iPhone 3G. While the Apple and the service providers are mum about the prices of this gadget in India, the industry sources predict that the pricing will be between Rs. 25,000 and Rs.30, 000. However in the U.S, this iconic phone costs $199 for 8GB and $299 for 16 GB versions.
The buzz surrounding launch of the gorgeous gizmo is that will U.S. model of selling iPhone work in India? In the U.S. the iPhone comes attached with a fixed two-year contract with the service provider AT&T and the minimum monthly bill for an iPhone with the AT&T contract is $60. Apple launched a 'Mass Market' approach in the U.S., by slashing the iPhone price to $199 and $299, which is originally between $350-500 for both the models, by making the customers to pay the balance within the expiry of contract. It is noteworthy that when Reliance Infocomm launched its mobile services in 2003, it had initiated similar contractual services. The company later discontinued the practice.
Though installment schemes are popular in India (for household products, automobiles), and even if Apple offers iPhone 3G in similar model, the service charges (if it is $60 as in the U.S, i.e., Rs.2400 pm) may be a roadblock for customers to stay back from iPhone 3G.Hence many believe that iPhone will become 'Rich guys' phone in India and will be just an alternative for Blackberry and other higher end phones.
Other than this, there are lot many issues that could challenge iPhone 3G launch in India. Initially, the service providers are planning to offer iPhone services through their existing 2G infrastructures, which will mar the real 3G experience. Also, the fear of 3G services becoming expensive is a concern, as TRAI has increased the base price for 3G-spectrum auction recently. Plus, low ARPU ($6), minuscule Internet usage through phone are other reasons, which could be the potential hindrances for the success of iPhone 3G in India. However, Airtel is much optimistic about iPhone 3G launch. "It will enrich the communication experience in India." a Bharti statement said.
Must read: Why iPhone 3G will be a dud in India?
http://www.siliconindia.com/magazine/articledesc.php?articleid=AWCA855783837
This is the first time Apple, creator of the Jesus phone called iPhone, has partnered with two different operators in the same country to launch its latest gizmo iPhone 3G. While the Apple and the service providers are mum about the prices of this gadget in India, the industry sources predict that the pricing will be between Rs. 25,000 and Rs.30, 000. However in the U.S, this iconic phone costs $199 for 8GB and $299 for 16 GB versions.
The buzz surrounding launch of the gorgeous gizmo is that will U.S. model of selling iPhone work in India? In the U.S. the iPhone comes attached with a fixed two-year contract with the service provider AT&T and the minimum monthly bill for an iPhone with the AT&T contract is $60. Apple launched a 'Mass Market' approach in the U.S., by slashing the iPhone price to $199 and $299, which is originally between $350-500 for both the models, by making the customers to pay the balance within the expiry of contract. It is noteworthy that when Reliance Infocomm launched its mobile services in 2003, it had initiated similar contractual services. The company later discontinued the practice.
Though installment schemes are popular in India (for household products, automobiles), and even if Apple offers iPhone 3G in similar model, the service charges (if it is $60 as in the U.S, i.e., Rs.2400 pm) may be a roadblock for customers to stay back from iPhone 3G.Hence many believe that iPhone will become 'Rich guys' phone in India and will be just an alternative for Blackberry and other higher end phones.
Other than this, there are lot many issues that could challenge iPhone 3G launch in India. Initially, the service providers are planning to offer iPhone services through their existing 2G infrastructures, which will mar the real 3G experience. Also, the fear of 3G services becoming expensive is a concern, as TRAI has increased the base price for 3G-spectrum auction recently. Plus, low ARPU ($6), minuscule Internet usage through phone are other reasons, which could be the potential hindrances for the success of iPhone 3G in India. However, Airtel is much optimistic about iPhone 3G launch. "It will enrich the communication experience in India." a Bharti statement said.
Must read: Why iPhone 3G will be a dud in India?
http://www.siliconindia.com/magazine/articledesc.php?articleid=AWCA855783837
Reader's comments(18)
1: The business model for India has to be
different from US. The indian service
providers has to raise the prize above $500
and get the full cost upfront, as indian
customers installment payment loyalty is
traditionally/still not the best. Indian is
a voice community and hence the business
model of data volume billing wont increase
the ARPU much in india. Service providers has
to target only the 'rich' until real 3G
arrives in India and masses starts using high
data volumes. But beware- Wimax is catching
up and the phone users will switch for voice
thru GSM and data thru Wimax
Posted by: Giboy Panicker - 12:00 AM Aug 11, ' 08
2: Keep in mind cost remain same difference in
technology I mean you will always get the new
technology at this cost .......do you
remember time of.... nokia 6610... arived in
market I guess at more than 22000..
Posted by: Lalit Bogra - 12:00 AM Aug 09, ' 08
3: its good but there should be launch of 4g
iphone.
Posted by: shivshankar - 12:00 AM Aug 09, ' 08
4: no they cant give us on 8000 price, it was
very cheap, they all r humors, u will get
i-phone at 20000 or above, but plzzz if u
will take my advice, dont purchase i-phone
its worthless, only buy if u want to use as a
i-pode beacuse its actual voice is in
earphone.... so now what do u think?????
Posted by: jasmeet - 12:00 AM Aug 09, ' 08
5: what will be the actual price of the iphone
comin 2 india.... i heard somewhere tht it
wll cost us about 8000... can any one confirm
tht news
Posted by: rono - 12:00 AM Aug 09, ' 08
8: The practice of restricting the device with
service provider should be made illegal. It
is against freedom and ill logical
My advice is. don't buy iphone unless it is free of service provider
My advice is. don't buy iphone unless it is free of service provider
Posted by: anil Kumar - 12:00 AM Aug 07, ' 08
9: I think the model which they have introduces
in the US will be the same in India ....it
might possible there r some changes but the
basic concept will b that only.....and thats
why they choose the two big operators.....
# iPhone its not basic phone its have ample of features
# but it might possible that u need to pay for the software for the which u r useing but that will b in hidden form like aoole can get the lumsum amount from the mobile opertors....n they can charge to the customers good business model
#the target in first phase would the corporate users..........
lets see what r there strategies for the Indian Markets......
# iPhone its not basic phone its have ample of features
# but it might possible that u need to pay for the software for the which u r useing but that will b in hidden form like aoole can get the lumsum amount from the mobile opertors....n they can charge to the customers good business model
#the target in first phase would the corporate users..........
lets see what r there strategies for the Indian Markets......
Posted by: Shivanand - 12:00 AM Aug 07, ' 08
10: what i think is that, i phone can do good
business in india but upto a great extend,
because most of the people know that i-phone
dont have good speaker as well as tone sound,
it only have sound with earphones, and also
most of the people have used earlier and now
they r selling there i-phones, but for those
who wants to make there standard they will
buy, but as we can see the prediction is that
they are launching at a very high rate,
i-phone will work only if they launch at a
lower price(9000-13000).... beacuse this is
the actual price....
Posted by: jasmeet - 12:00 AM Aug 07, ' 08
11: Don't buy iPhone for following reasons:
1) If you care about your rights, don't buy an iPhone. Apple will only allow third-party applications that run through the iPhone's Safari browser. That's going to mean limited selection and limited functionality. This is a far cry from the freedom and innovation of true open-platform development.
2) You can't choose networks.
3) iPhone exposes your whereabouts and provides ways for others to track you without your knowledge.
4) There's no doubt about it that the iPhone look "stylish" when you first see it. But isn't that really the problem with all of Apple's products? They look pretty but provide very low value for the price? Do you really want to be a loser that overpays for the iPhone just to look cool for a little while? Don't forget that no matter how "stylish" you look, sooner or later other people will have an iPhone and then you'll just look stupid.
5) Some websites wont work The iPhone doesnt support Flash, which means that most online animations simply wont display. Some interactive graphics wont display and entire websites wont display if they are made using Flash.
6) Cant switch to another network provider If you decide that you want to switch from O2 to another network, you cant officially, as the iPhone has been locked to O2 only. There are several unofficial methods to unlock it but they cost money and the phone may become locked again when software updates happen.
7) The battery gradually dies over time and can only be replaced by Apple for a high fee Unlike all other mobile phones, you will not be able to remove the battery in the iPhone yourself. The only way will be send it back to Apple who will charge a substantial fee
1) If you care about your rights, don't buy an iPhone. Apple will only allow third-party applications that run through the iPhone's Safari browser. That's going to mean limited selection and limited functionality. This is a far cry from the freedom and innovation of true open-platform development.
2) You can't choose networks.
3) iPhone exposes your whereabouts and provides ways for others to track you without your knowledge.
4) There's no doubt about it that the iPhone look "stylish" when you first see it. But isn't that really the problem with all of Apple's products? They look pretty but provide very low value for the price? Do you really want to be a loser that overpays for the iPhone just to look cool for a little while? Don't forget that no matter how "stylish" you look, sooner or later other people will have an iPhone and then you'll just look stupid.
5) Some websites wont work The iPhone doesnt support Flash, which means that most online animations simply wont display. Some interactive graphics wont display and entire websites wont display if they are made using Flash.
6) Cant switch to another network provider If you decide that you want to switch from O2 to another network, you cant officially, as the iPhone has been locked to O2 only. There are several unofficial methods to unlock it but they cost money and the phone may become locked again when software updates happen.
7) The battery gradually dies over time and can only be replaced by Apple for a high fee Unlike all other mobile phones, you will not be able to remove the battery in the iPhone yourself. The only way will be send it back to Apple who will charge a substantial fee
Posted by: Bala - 12:00 AM Aug 07, ' 08
12: I think there are lots of iPhone fan. Also
comparatively in India people buy much
costlier phone then in USA. In USA people
consider phone are for free as they spend
money on usage plans etc whereas in India
phones are actually everything plans are even
from Rs.200($5) per month which is nothing. I
think they will get a good spread in the
Indian market but yes they may had got more
with lesser price.
Posted by: Akash Takyar - 12:00 AM Aug 07, ' 08
13: at current situation of the competitive
market they have to launch this with low
price only then & then they capture the
indian market. manufacturer have to give a
related knowledge also to users.
Posted by: nimesh trivedi - 12:00 AM Aug 07, ' 08
14: hi, i do agree with the comments that that
will be a hit in the indian market if the
prices would go reasonable, but if it goes
beyond the expectations of middle or upper
middle class community, beacause- its the
class for the survival of all major brands,
pricing structure is more important, if
compared with U.S , huge differences between
the prices could may be a slump.
Posted by: Sumit - 12:00 AM Aug 07, ' 08
15: No I don't agree with you guys. I think
Indian operators will not mind sharing
revenues until and unless it helps them
increasing or sustaining the level of ARPU.
Also, operators are exploring ways to
increase the revenue from Value added
services, and iPhone will boost the VAS
opportunities....
Posted by: Ajay Sharma - 12:00 AM Aug 07, ' 08
16: It would be unfair to compare the US market
strtegies with India as you talking of two
completely different markets. iPhone will be
Class a hit in India, if not a Mass hit!
Posted by: Satvik Solanki - 12:00 AM Aug 07, ' 08
17: If I could it from Canada, will it be
possible for it to work in India?
Posted by: aman - 12:00 AM Aug 07, ' 08
18: where launch, because i know Vadofone has
been launch in Jharkhand. i have submit my
resume. Till date we have not recived any
call frrom said.
Posted by: MALTI - 12:00 AM Aug 06, ' 08
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