Comments on: Disappointed at the iPhone pricing in India, 8GB - Rs 31000 ($715), 16GB - 36100 ($832)

By: Rehan

Rehan — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:46:52 +0000

The iPhone costs about 27,000+ rupees to actually make, thus, the carriers in the US (AT&T) and in other countries subsidize this high price and regain that amount by offering a fixed service plan. In India, where there is no concept of having a service plan, if the phone was to cost the same- 199$ (Rs. 8634), Vodafone or Airtel would lose 20,000 rupees per phone. They are bound to price it at the prive they get it for from Apple and obviously add their own margin which is 4,000 rupees or 8,000 rupees. So, im sorry to dissapoint but, unless a service plan is introduced and the price is therefore subsidized, there is no way the price of the phone can be lower, whether ‘Apple and Vodafone see the potential?’ or not.

By: asim

asim — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:15:21 +0000

To tell you the truth i think buying a 31000 phone that to sim locked is a joke. God please make those idiots realise they are fucking the indian consumer.

By: Navjot Pawera

Navjot Pawera — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:10:19 +0000

Alright ! So Airtel announces now, that the phone is not going to be sim-unlocked either ….

By: ashwin rai

ashwin rai — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:52:49 +0000

Guys,

I share the same feeling as most of you do…

even if i would have bought a piece of toy, esp if its buggy, i will never shell out such a hefty amount!

By: Munshi

Munshi — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:13:07 +0000

I had also waited so much to get my iPhone ever since I was in the US and it wasn’t released there. I would have bought it there, if there was no contract tag, even if Apple sold it locked and the warranty getting void if sold locked…but no luck! Apple had announced that they are going to launch iPhone for the same price across the globe and then I saw this Airtel Ad to register for iPhones in advance and I did register while in the US. But the price in India is not even close to what it is in other countries…IT’S PAINSTAKINGLY HIGH…I have given up the idea of buying one at present as Indian market is full of competitors, who I am sure must have been working day in and day out to launch an alternative to iPhone..or I’ll wait until at least the price of iPhone is reduced to a sensible mark…It’s not worth spending more than 30K, I suggest one should rather go and buy a lappie for oneself for that amount…:) :)

By: Navjot Pawera

Navjot Pawera — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:05:03 +0000

As I moved to Norway at the starting of this month, I’ve been checking up the iPhone prices here and waiting for the prices to be released in India. In Norway the easiest way to get a legitimate unlocked Iphone is to go for the cheapest 1 year iPhone plan (8GB) and opt out after the first month. You pay extra for the service provider to officially unlock your phone.

In the end you end up paying close to INR 34000 to get a completely unlocked iphone (which btw, would include one months tarrif as well, as you used it for the first month under the plan.

So now in India they have launched it at INR 31000 (8GB) - which isn’t too much better (btw - is this price inclusive of all taxes??).

Norway - one of the richer countries & India - a developing countries. It probably does show how strong the mobile market is in India, but I would wait to see how the iPhone sells in the Indian economy.

By: Satish

Satish — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:19:12 +0000

I have been waiting for iPhone since it is launched in US, but I am totally disappointed with this pricing, I mean c’mon this isn’t fair I am definitely NOT buying it even if I can afford this
I will rather go for Asus P320

By: Abhiroop Sharma

Abhiroop Sharma — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:56:36 +0000

My question, are you willing to pay 36k for a phone which will be locked ( Btw 36k would be MORE than what you would pay upfront for an unlocked iPhone in most countries )?
You will be a **** of vodafone for 2 years, with them shoving any quality of service , any price , any data plan which they see fit.
No Thanks!

I was a bit shocked when I saw the price but I was still ready to buy, but NOT WHEN ITS LOCKED.

Apple and their brothers have really got their whole India strategy wrong