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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I was waiting for the iphone to release. In fact pushed my old Nokia phone to its limit because I was sure, given the pricing strategy in the West, that I will be able to get the iphone without paying through my nose. However, once they released the rate plans, I completely changed my mind. I have worked with an iphone that a couple of friends have and trust me, while it is good, it is not worth the exorbitant prices they are put at in India.
- Posted by NishantI still needed a new phone. So I hopped into the nearest Nokia store and got myself a Navigator 6210. It is awesome. It has all the ease of Nokia design, plus the maps with AGPS and a brilliant interface. And I got it for half the price of the iphone. I am thrilled.
Every one was waiting for iphone but Apple disappointed us with the price, Iphone will be major flop if they continue with this price….
- Posted by SrikanthHi guys,
Apple are really bumping (mugging) you lot in India. DO NOT buy the IPhone for that price. You can buy it cheaper in any other country.
What a MUG.
The first generation Iphone $599 everybody thought was too expensieve in June 2007, and the price was bought down in sept 2007 in the US at $399 = 200 pounds.
And in the Uk it was for 269 pounds from Nov onwards till April when it was selling in the Uk for only 169 pounds.
Steve Job said it wont be more then $199 = 100 pounds anywhere in the world.
Then why are they mugging the poor INDIA country selling it for bloody 31k rupees. This is a disgrace from APPLE.
My friends in INDIA DO NOT BUY, AND IF YOU HAVE BOUGHT GET YOUR MONEY BACK AND buy the product cheaper elsewere like EBAY or from Austraila, iTaly or Hong KOng or CHINA.
- Posted by RIzwanWell I was eagerly waiting for the Iphone 3G but its price is a dampener…31k… u ppl r rite..u can get a decent laptop at that price point…
- Posted by RupeshHi ha ha … So finally the smart phone is in India.
- Posted by Priyanka NaikIts good but I don’t know why media is hyping so much bout its feel & experience without letting people know its disadvantages ! Its the duty of the media to make consumer aware of its features (Though the features are negative)
Its not that I am against it. Even I liked it when I first saw the Phone (without 3G feature) with my friend. But as soon a s tried to know more bout the phone it disappointed me.
So I wish you all (whoever buys it) a VERY BEST LUCK.
Just dn’t go on the Dikhava… Apni Akal Chalav.
Count me among the enthusiastic people who were all psyched to buy the iPhone at the midnight launch only to be turned off at once by the price. I hope the $800 iPhone bombs and they lower the price to something less disgracefully high.
I wouldn’t pay that much for the iPhone even if I was still living in the US and making a real salary.
Looks like I’ll be using my iPhone 2G for a while longer…
- Posted by Johnda price really sucksssssssssssss !!!!!
- Posted by amanWell..we Indians know about the iPhone..I for one have been waiting for it since it was launched last year in the US. I own & am proud of anything Apple, and I have been waiting for this launch for the past 2 months, frequenting Airtel stores asking them about the launch date, but, once the prices were announced…..I started finding all the oft quoted cons about the iPhone weighty enough deterrents. I think my Nokia E65 and Palm TX will suffice till the day Apple/Airtel/Vodafone have the good sense to halve the prices. I don’t want to feel proud of owning the most expensive iPhone. Apple, Airtel & Vodafone have arrogantly degraded the iPhone to a “flaunt-it-rich-spoilt-brat” product. Oh yes, I am jealous of all the rich people who willl be lflaunting their iphones. I have started hating it as I write.
- Posted by BasuSo that I can get a perspective of things in India….. What is the average income in Rs. of an Indian Professional?
- Posted by Johnygood to see the launch of much awaited iphone in india, atlast. but definitely its not worth the kind of hype people were feeling and as of now most of the features will not work. mostly importantly, the price factor will definitely keep it far from reaching and this is not worth of the price they are quoting. by the time 3G works in india, even the price of the same phone would be viable for most people by then. so definitely bad time for iphone, make sure people wont hate iphone, rather looking for good sales.
- Posted by swamiGood luck Nokia!
I believe that iphone in India don’t deserve that kind of price. At a price of Rs. 31k for 8 GB & 35k for 16 GB, Airtel & vodafone have positioned iphone in India as a luxury product. What’s worse is that it has to compete with established players like Nokia & Samsung. Indian consumers are very discerning that want better value for every penny they spent. So a Rs. 31k & 35k doesn’t provide a better value in proportion to its price.
If the service providersare going to stick with this pricing, then Iphone launch is going to be a big time disappointment in India.
- Posted by sameerEven I was too much crazy about Iphone but when I came to know about the price, I was bit nervous. You can get a good Laptop in 31k. Even though its said that its a nice gadet but paying so much amount is foolishness when there are many other options in the market.
- Posted by Shyam DangiI was waiting for this launch. But the price has put me off. I was wishing it to be about 21000 - 25000. Its not worth buying a gadget for 31000. i can get a laptop if i spend something more.
I can hear people at Nokia laughing away!
- Posted by NelsonIts very high price with no 3G in india yet.
- Posted by yesupadamInflation Hatao
Apple Hatao!!!!!!!!!!
its not unbelievable that there is no hype for the phone here in india. only a month ago it was rumored to be released at the same price as the other countries. now customers are discouraged because they must pay nearly 4x that price.
- Posted by angrycustomerI’ll wait for a year and buy it after the price comes down below 20K. Heard one can’t download ringtones, forward SMS and that it has only a 2 megapixel camera. Will surely wait till they address these issues and gimme a 5 megapixel camera with at least a 20GB memory. C’mon, it shouldn’t be rocket science. Word of advice to Apple - we’re Indians. we’re price conscious even when we buy oranges from Nagpur.
- Posted by MadhuThis is the marketing stretegy of the manufacturer to attract the segment known as “innovaters” by keeping a silence over the price & features. I do agree that most of the features will not be supported by the service providers of mobile communication.
In India, people have money & they do not know where tp spend/throw the money. Such people form the community of “innovaters”.
The same phone after in 2009 will be avialble at less than half the current price.
- Posted by VINOD K.the cost of that iphone that was launched in india is hefty when comapared to other countries that was launched in july. that too, the main purpose of this iphone is 3G,but the 3G service is not yet activated in india. then whats the use of buying that iphone which is worth rs. 31000
- Posted by BalajiGood. Now let’s wait for a month or so for the launch hype to cool down and realistic pricing introduced. Is 21,000 and 25,000 fair price for the 2 models? How much would you pay?
- Posted by SamayThere was no announcement from Airtel about the midnight launch. There is no loud announcement on their site either. I wonder why it is made out to be such a low key affair - dialing down all the hype. Starting from the price, everything has been a big dampner. Hope they reduce the prices soon.
- Posted by Anon