I am not crazy about cellphones. So when I was asked to cover the midnight launch of the Apple iPhone 3G in India, it didn’t really seem worth sacrificing my sleep.
I walked half-heartedly to the Vodafone store in nearby Connaught Place, hoping to see frenzied youngsters jostling for vantage position outside its shutters. I had read horror stories of people abroad queuing up 60 hours ahead of schedule for a chance to buy the iPhone first.
There was jostling all right, but only among photographers and journalists. There was not a customer in sight.
Till midnight, the media was cloistered inside the store in New Delhi listening to a live band and staring aimlessly at the wall.
At a minute past, the action started. The first buyer was handed the iPhone. He grinned and posed interminably for photos and the news channels. Then the second, third and fourth customer appeared in quick succession.
All of them didn’t mind paying 31,000 rupees ($712) for a phone including some features that don’t even work in India, because the country doesn’t support 3G services yet.
I step outside for a breath of fresh air. A stray dog saunters past — flummoxed by the hubbub no doubt. There are no curious onlookers nearby. Is India really aware the iPhone is out today? Do the majority of its people really care about the high-tech smartphone?
Maybe the outlet launching the iPhone in a Gurgaon mall has done better. Or maybe Indians aren’t really impressed by a phone when inflation is above 12 percent.
Either way, I need to catch up on my lost sleep. Here’s wishing the Apple iPhone 3G better luck over the weekend.
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check this out for my comments http://www.betanews.com/article/Apples_i Phone_3G_gets_hohum_response_in_Poland_a nd_India/1219424595
2007 estimated per capita ANNUAL income GDP for India is US $937. you still wont want to target a $712 phone at a family even if both the partners made $10000 each a year typing computer code, unless the employer was paying for it
Factor that with the facts that
* Cheaper “unlocked” phones are available for equivalent of $100 (there is no such thing as an unlocked phone. all phones are made free. its the north american and european operators who lock them to get their customers into their slavery contracts in the free modern world of west)
* no 3G is service available
* the daily lives and the spending profiles are nowhere close to that of the west. (The west should really take their moment and study the indian culture and the mentality of the indian consumer)
and add in these facts
* you would get locked into a phone with high initial cost and monthly bills
* the phone does not offer indian languages probably (yep, ever since the british had a stronghold on india some of the country speaks english very well. even though it is a software powerhouse for most countries of the world in the respective country’s local language, availability of local language software in any indian language is almost ZERO)
* the iphone reportedly had a battery that is soldered inside and you need to go back to apple to even have the battery replaced
* you could easily get mugged on the street if the wrong person found out you had an expensive iphone … OR what if you simply lost or broke it
* why would an indian consumer pay 90cents to apple itunes to purchase an mp3 of a indian song made in india and uploaded to a non indian server, and give 10 cents to the music company? they get their music literally for free & ipods which are cheaper do a good job of playing the music like all other much cheaper mp3 players (i dunno if the costs are the other way around or different, irrespective of the numbers… the question holds)
Score: 0 By robinmcool2008 edited Aug 27, 2008 - 1:58 PM
I was not accurate about the battery. thie new 3G iphone does not have a soldered battery but hey …
- Posted by robinmncool2008* still no slots for adding memory cards like those 8GB micro SDHC or 32GB SDHC cards
* no Java and flash support …
* no support for voice dialing? (voice command dialing)
Here in Korea, peoples are crazy about using new Apple products. And here 3G is working in very fast speed. Now people are using Samsung, LG mobiles for 3G phone. If iphone is launch with 800$ may be no one will buy that product. Its really expensive even with 3G. But in India there is no 3G provider. So I think it will be better you buy a ipod touch and a Nokoa mobile.
- Posted by SinghI have used the IPhone in the US. It looks terrific. Call quality is poor. Too many dropped calls or incoming calls go straight to voicemail. Data speeds on 3G networks are slow. At times, it takes 30+ minutes for an sms to be received after it is sent. Is it a device issue or a network problem. I returned the device within 2 weeks. Certainly, the device does not live up to the hype. You are not missing much. If you want good voice quality, get a Nokia. If you want an email device, get a BlackBerry.
- Posted by SonalRs.31,000/- is skimming pricing method, the company has adopted. Let us wait for 3 to 6 months to see the price to come down
- Posted by natessanHhaaaaa,
People are going GgGa over the new IPhone…trust be friends, it is definately not worth buying this stupid gadget where most of the options are just options and cannot be used.
- Posted by BharaniGetting one from europe for much lessee price and getting a key for the iphone is not a bad idea.
Thing over it again b4 buying it.
Best thing is to wait and see the real jokers buying it for 30+ INR. It is fun to se them getting BAKRA..:)