Now this is really unexpected ! The next Generation 3G enabled Iphone is going to cost you…hold your breath…$199 or mere INR 8400/- . Now is That a real news?????
The story that has been floating around for a month now has finally been confirmed. Vodafone will launch the iPhone in India and other countries such as Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey (reports Business Standard)
The price of the iPhone has been unconfirmed. Earlier it had been reported that phone would cost anywhere between Rs. 27, 200 – Rs. 28, 000. That price makes it relatively unattractive when compared with the price that the grey market offers the phone at (around 20k for the 8GB). Incidentally the 3G iPhone (which is going to be launched in August) will probably be launched in India as well.
The Economic Times reports that Apple was in talks with both Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar for bringing iPhone into India. “However, Vodafone has larger number of subscribers in metros and ‘A’ circles who are more likely to use the luxury phone. These subscribers are high data users. So, Vodafone is ready with a pool of customers who can use this device,” said a telecom expert.
Talking about the price, Vodafone has said that it would be “competitive”. So one can expect the price to be at 16k (the current price for the base model in the US) + 5% for custom duties on Cell Phones + a minimal premium = Rs. 18, 000. That’s my guess. Reliance recently launched iStores carrying Apple products which are very competitively priced. The standard MacBook is about as expensive as one in the US. So keeping that in mind, I don’t think they would want to keep the iPhone at a price that is completely out of reach (such as the one speculated initially).
Also they are getting fantastic PR :) - I doubt they’d spend truckloads on advertising (which should make the price more competitive). Anyone who probably ever wanted an iPhone possibly knows about its launch already.
The move is also perfectly timed. With number portability around the corner, you can expect consumers to flock to Vodafone outlets and switch to Vodafone’s network just to use the iPhone (and be locked in by horrendous schemes). Vodafone’s customer care incidentally is quite crappy. The dog doesn’t fool me.
