iPhone lovers in India – Time to rejoice!!
Vodafone has been chosen to officially launch the iPhone in India, and the expected date is the first week of September. So there’s still a little more than 2 months of wait. Once the iPhone is launched in India, Im not sure how Vodafone will manage to meet the demands, unless the price the phone a little steeply, and according to the rumours, the iPhone will be launched at a price between INR 27,000 to INR 30,000.
Now that surely will take away some buyers. The owners will not be restricted to using services from Vodafone alone. It will be an unlocked phone and the users are free to use any operator apart from Vodafone.
Apple has expressed their concern that they are not very happy with this kind of agreement, and they’d wish if the phone was available with an exclusive operator. Im not sure how the ‘contract’ thing will work in India, as its not popular. Ideally, what Vodafone can do is, launch the phone for INR 8,000 and restrict the users to only use their services.
My guess is most people including me, would then opt for the iPhone. Lets wait and watch what Vodafone has in store for us. Though I still dont understand what the huge hyper over the iPhone is, but maybe we can address that issue sometime later.
June 18th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
AirTel & Vodafone both have the rights to sell the iPhone in India. There is speculation that AirTel will launch it on the 11th of July itself whereas Vodafone will come out with it in September. The dates are speculation.
June 18th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Well here in Aus it’s releasing on the 11th of July – exclusive with Optus and Vodafone only
Me can’t wait
June 19th, 2008 at 9:52 am
@Manan I dont think I’ve read anywhere that Airtel might launch the phone on 11th July. Its virtually impossible for Vodafone to be left behind. Either they both launch in July (Dont think so) or they come out together in September.
@Devesh – Any idea whats the price they are launching with Optus? And whats the min pay per month (Contract) ?
June 19th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Had spoken to Imagine store, another Mac user had talked to imagine. We both were kinda hinted at a 11th July release. Imagine stores have AirTel notice about the iPhone, no mention of Vodafone.
June 20th, 2008 at 9:25 am
I also heard that the prices of the phone will be the same all around the globe – Dunno how true is that!
June 25th, 2008 at 10:57 am
TOI today carries an ad (by Vodafone) on the front page, which says Vodafone is open to Pre-Orders.