iPhone, USA vs India

Posted by Abhijith as Uncategorized

A few details about iPhone in USA(as of date of the post):

* compulsory new 2 year post-paid contract with only one company, AT&T

* costs for the lower capacity model, phone = $199 from July 11 for 3G model + monthly charges = $70 excluding taxes, excluding messaging, but unlimited data access i.e. free internet

* unlocking new model almost impossible because you have to buy with credit card, and if you don’t activate phone(3G model) within 30 days from date of purchase, penalty will be applied

* current details indicate terminating the contract(by paying high fees) with AT&T will mean that you have to return the phone as well

* as mentioned internet access will be free in the contract..

* there is no option of a prepaid iPhone, unlike in Australia or UK

So for India, I guess they will have a contract system, offering the phone for a low price with postpaid contract or a high price with prepaid.

Since such bundling(phone+plan) is not common in India, it will be interesting to see what plan is proposed. Also complicating the situation is the fact that most people use prepaid plans with an unlocked mobile, i.e. freedom to use mobile with any provider.

News wires have it that Airtel and Vodafone are waiting for 3G directives from the government, hence the delay. Rumours abound for a release in September.

Suppose a person buys an iPhone with a postpaid plan, there will not be much intent for unlocking it. But for a person who buys it for a prepaid option, usually he will not have  a credit card, so tracking that iPhone will be difficult, so the only way to make money will be to sell that prepaid iPhone for a very high price.

According to some speculators the actual price of the iPhone, i.e. the money the carrier has to pay to Apple for every piece they(the carriers) sell, is about $525 for the 8GB model.

This amount, about Rs.22,000 , could be the end price which people pay for the iPhone in India ultimately.

Notwithstanding the ‘early bird’ signup/registering for the iPhone by Airtel and Vodafone, I hope people don’t fall head first into a ditch they do not know the depth of.

trackback: http://abhijith1729.blogspot.com/2008/06/iphone-usa-vs-india.html 

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June 30, 2008 | Filed Under Uncategorized 

Comments

3 Responses to “iPhone, USA vs India”

  1. Admin on June 30th, 2008 6:55 pm

    I don’t like the iPhone. I think it’s just too hyped. Check this out, haha: http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone

  2. Sudharsan on June 30th, 2008 8:36 pm

    Um, I dont think it’ll be that expensive in India. Apple has already begun operations in several countries with multiple operators and greater pricing flexibility than in the US. I remain optimistic that the price’ll be closer to 10,000 Rs, although ur right that the launch itself’ll probably be late this year only..

  3. Vikas on July 15th, 2008 9:07 pm

    Hi friend..

    My sister stays in US.
    I asked my sister to get an Iphone for me, i.e. 199$(Rs. 8500),
    But she replied that, They are not getting the unlocked Iphone in US and they are only getting iPhone with a 2 year contract with AT&T, and that is why, she is not able to get for me.
    Do you know any other possibility,
    Please reply asap, as she is coming to India end of July.

    Thanks in advance,

    Vikas

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