Every time a new iPhone launches in the US, my messenger, cell phone, twitter all start to buzz with inquiries by local Apple fans here in India. All of them have the same query – Can you ask your brother (he is based in NJ, US) to send an iPhone for me? I heard it costs Rs 10000 there ($199). And I go crazy explaining to them that in US the iPhone 3G and the 3GS are sold under a 2 year contract + a subsidized rate plan, where in the phone is handed over to the buyer only after he purchases a AT&T connection for 2 years.
The iPhone 2G (1st Generation) was widely imported in India for $399 (Rs 16000 then approx) and unlocked. While the iPhone 2G was locked by Apple, the rates were not subsidized to the magical $199 figure by Apple. One could just walk into an Apple Store in the US and walkout with a locked iPhone 2G without having an AT&T contract. Things changed a lot with the iPhone 3G …
The Apple iPhone launch is a big news for local news channels in India aswell. And Apple should actually blame them for disappointed iPhone Fans in India, who complain of high prices. When the news channels proudly announce Rs 8000 – Rs 10000 pricing, who will be happy with the Rs 30k price that Vodafone and Airtel sell the iPhone for? This is fueled by a general perception that electronic goods are cheaper outside India.
Contract with telecom operators with fixed monthly rent is something we are yet to see in India. In US to get an iPhone from ATT you need to signup for a minimum monthly commitment plan. Apple is remunerated from your monthly bills for the same, to cover up the subsidized pricing of $199. In India while the iPhone is locked to Airtel and Vodafone, you can use your same rate plan and connection with any of these operators on the iPhone.
So here is the myth buster: iPhone is not over priced in India, its Not subsidized. And I fell that its cheaper this way, as the monthly AT&T commitment in US ensures that you pay almost $1000 extra yearly as mobile bills. Unsubsidized and contract free iPhone costs $599 in US aswell – this translates to approx Rs 30000. Very close to the iPhone pricing in India.
And if you were thinking if one can just fill up a ATT form in US, get an iPhone and then come back here in India and use the iPhone for $199 … well that doesn’t happen 
. There are proper credit checks before you take a iPhone now, not any tom, dck and harry can pickup an iPhone without convincing Apple / ATT that he would be paying the monthly bills.
In my honest opinion you should buy the iPhone in India – only officially from Vodafone or Airtel. The warranty services provided by Apple is amazing and is valuable (Update: In India you need to go to the service provider to get warranty – which is a Pain.. as @b50 informs me, But some warranty support in India is better buying a US version which lands up even in the grey market at almost the same rate ). And BSNL, MTNL, LOOP, Aircel etc subscribers can always unlock the 3GS and use it with their existing SIM.
iPhone / iPod touch downloads
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One more reason why shouldnt import the iPhone from US and buy it from India is that unlocking gives rise to network issues and the network capacity is reduced to some extent. And there is also a warrany you can claim in India if anything happens to your iPhone
Very good explanation. But why should I pay the heavy tariffs and call charge to Airtel and Vodafone as the phone is not subsidized. If any one want to know how much Airtel and Vodafone are charging for iPhone tariff plans please visit their website and check. Better I’ll buy an unlock iPhone from US as the prices are same INR 30000/- to INR 35000/-. And I’ll use it with any mobile service provider.
@Pintu Mallick
There is no compulsion in India to use iPhone Tariff plans from Vodafone and Airtel … You can use your existing Sim card with the existing plan
(At the same time, you can consider unlocking the Indian version and use with any other network)
This really stupid thing our service provider dose with us….
see, if iPhone in us 199$ come with lock and work with specific service provider and after contract price come to around 599 $….
but in India if i am paying full payment in advance i.e. 30K then why they are giving phone in locked status… that i cant use with alter net service provider… and one more thing from iPhone 3GS apple had designed such a way that if you jailbreak it or unlock then you will void your warranty… it cant be solved by restoring again…
also in India always disputes going on with service provider bill as if my bill comes overcharged but still i need to stick with same service provider or else i have to use it as a iPod only… isn’t it foolish thing for us as we are iPhone lovers in India badly charged…..
Also if you check the official service provider of India Vodafone and air tel there plan are not less then 699 and 999… and its fix rate….so count your wholesome payment to this service provider for your iPhone love…..
Even in US if you take a contract free iPhone for $599 or so .. its still Locked!
OK a mail I got from a friend about iPhone warranty service in India (at this price I expected better):
An amazing fact is that apple is not taking any responsibility for iphone sold by airtel or vodafone for warranty or accessories. Airtel in turn takes atleast 7-10 days under warranty for replacement (no repairs -only replacement).Only authorised airtel units accept iphone returns which are two in number for whole of Rajasthan. Goes without saying , people manning these shops are idiots who give u hell even for a genuine defective iphone.
Iphone warranty in India is a joke. My friend got a legit iphone 2 weeks back from airtel. Unfortunately, it got wet. Warranty void. But he asked service center to repair on cost. & they refused. Take it to Delhi. When he has bought an iphone in Jaipur, why should the customer be forced to take it to delhi. Though their warranty service on ipods is fantastic. But that also if you call up apple toll free and take a reference no. and provide the same to service provider. Else they try to come up with excuses and refuse arranty coverage.
@Pintu Mallick’
The call charges in India are the cheapest in the WORLD, call charges in the US are 10-25 cents which is approximately 5 RS and here it is 0.5 RS..Thats the reason iPhones come to India without contract for more than 30k..
Also its not that Apple charges 10k and 20k is kept by Vodafone Or Airtel..Some amount from that 20,000 bucks goes to Apple…( infact most of it)
We have to remember that while considering call ciosts we are considering the rates by converting US$ o Rs. But actually, Indian call rates are still high when considering native currency at its own.
& with the heating issue with iphone 3GS on prolonged usage which is a very hot topic everywhere, isnt this a major flaw ….
Anyone have an idea what the price of the iPhone 3G 8GB will be after the launch of the 3GS in India?
[off][trick]get 1 mbps-10 mbps speed in 195 rs
guys i found a new trick…
every one knows bsnl launched new 3G sims recently…however i found a new way of using 3g speed in normal 2g bsnl sim…
just recharge your bsnl number with rs 195 for unlimited gprs.and connect to the internet using a 3G phone orr a data card that used sim for surfing……now the thing is bsnl 2g is clashing with bsnl 3g…u will get 1 mbps speed in normal sim
1>the place should come under bsnl 3g list
2>u must be having a 3g phone or there is a data card used to surf using sim card u can uuse that…
thats it
enjoy downloading @high speedi cool [off][trick]get 1 mbps 10 mbps speed in 195 rsi read the specifications this thing cannot be fixed for another yr…4 sure
I disagree to you Mohit..i still think call rates are the cheapest in India compared to other developed nations like US and Australia..
Also the over-heating issue are just seen in a few iPhones and its all hyped up..
I am waiting to buy it please, please,please, please,please,please, please,please, please,please, please,please,please,please,please,please,please,please,please,please, please,please, please, please,please,please,please,please,please,please,please,please,please,please, please,please, please,please,please, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz release it soon.
Get the N97. iPhone 3GS is easy to use and has a better touchscreen and….ummm… thats about it.It doesn’t multitask, doesn’t have a physical keyboard,doesn’t have flash support in the browser, doesn’t have DVD quality widescreen video recording, no flash in camera, no FMTransmitter, and about 10 other things…the list just goes on.
The N97 takes a while to get used to, but it has better features and is OPEN in a way the iPhone will never be, and you claim warranty services from Nokia, not the stupid Airtel, they suck anyway.
I bought the iPhone 3GS in the US. I bought an unlocked and a jailbroken one initially with OS 3.0 installed in it. I was using it with T-Mobile when in US because of their comparatively low price. I got that phone to India and upgraded the OS to 3.1.2 and again had to jailbreak and unlock it. Pretty straightforward job if you know. Currently on Vodafone, I am having absolutely no problems with this iPhone of mine. Works like a charm. I have heard rumors that iPhone 3GS was not launched in India initially because of the climatic conditions. BUT they might just be rumors (who knows). However, if you still want to buy an iPhone 3GS, it is available in most of stores across the country (not the Apple stores
, the imported goods stores, grey market etc.).
Why are you guys importing iphone 3G/3Gs from US? There is hardly a 3G n/w in India. The AT&T iphones in the uses a special frequency for 3G which is not compatible with BSNL 3G.
Your phone only runs EDGE.
Better by the cheaper 2G phones. Of course, if you want to use it as a status symbol, but then again they look the same.