India has been announced as one of the 21 countries that will receive the iPhone 3G this coming Friday. Both Vodafone and Airtel have announced their hardware costs and the prices are staggering.
A couple of weeks back, we had gotten word of Indian iPhone 3G prices that were rumored to carry an expected price between Rs 11,500 (about $273) and 12,000 (about $285). Wishful thinking, as the official prices have been announced today and far exceed these early estimates.
Vodafone has confirmed today that that their iPhone 3G offering will ring in for no less than Rs 31,00 for the 8GB model and Rs 36,100 for the 16GB model. That’s a whopping $700 and $825 respectively, which may very well be one some of the most expensive hardware costs any where in the world.
Subscribers of Vodafone who have pre-ordered the device are being allowed to pay an advance of Rs 10,000 (about $230) to beat the lines come Friday. With these prices I would be hard pressed to think that there will be much of a line anywhere.
Additionally, Airtel has announced the same pricing for the iPhone 3G. Current Airtel customers can book the handset by texting the word “iPhone” to 54321. Yet bookings don’t exactly mean the customer secures a specific unit, it just means that they are showing interest. Great, they should have half the country signing up for “bookings.” See here for more details.
Be sure and check out the new dynamic iPhone WorldMap for complete coverage, rate plans and iPhone prices around the world.
[via CellPassion]
One Comment to “India to Pay Outrageous Prices for iPhone 3G”
Hi all
So, finally comapny understood mindset and problem of common man of not want to spend such a big amount of Rs. 31000/36000 to buy an iphone and made it available through EMI with tying up with few banks. I saw this info on iphone section of airtel site (http://www.airtel.in/iphone3g)
Rajesh
Reply