iPhone 3G unlocked... at last!

Its here, but its still in beta stage. Doesn't work for all. Though reports of successful unlocking are pouring in.
Engadget article [link]
Macworld article [link]
Gizmodo article [link]
iPhone-dev article [link]
RaphyCreations article [link]
Digg Post [link]

High price takes shine off iPhone 3G India launch

I would have posted this entry a few days earlier 22nd August to be exact if I hadn't been so heartbroken. Its not that it came as a surprise to me but I was overly optimistic while hoping that all those price rumors were only rumors and Apple won't disappoint India. But Alas! some things are just too good to be true.

For those who have no idea what I am talking about, Apple's iPhone 3G has been released in India on 22nd of August with Bharti's Airtel and Vodafone as partners at a price tag of Rs 31000($755) for 8GB version and Rs 36000($900) for the 16GB.

Its not that the Indian market hasn't seen phones at this price range but the fact that the same iPhone is available for Rs 8000($199) in US. The justification that both Airtel and Vodafone are giving is that the phone will not be bound to any contract. Although you'll not be allowed to change the SIM i.e. it'll be locked. Sounds like a contract to me.

There's an interesting article on Om Malik's blog that says In India, Either Buy iPhones or Get a Family Car

Another article at EFYtimes.com give an insight into the pricing of iPhone in India.

I just hope that iPhone isn't doomed fro failure in India and that the companies will realize that to succeed in India's price sensitive market being sensible is the first and foremost requirement.

iPhone 3G @ Rs 31,000

Oh man...
Could it get worse?

[link]

Airtel to launch 3G iPhone in India on Aug 22

Finally a date has been fixed, officially. [link1 link2]
Pricing details are not out yet. They won't be out until closer to the launch date. Somehow I don't get a good feeling about this, probably due to the worries of the iPhone being excessively priced.
Its US retail price is $199 which is about Rs 8000 in Indian currency. If the iPhone is priced around Rs 10000(unlikely) it would certainly kill the competition. Sadly though the much desired eye candy is likely to be priced upwards of Rs 15000(speculations).
With the govt. rolling out its 3G policy, the road for the launch of iPhone has definitely got a lot easier. Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope that Steve Jobs keeps his promise of releasing iPhone 3G with fixed price of $199 everywhere.

India's 3G unlikely to happen soon

Some worrying news here... Checkout this article "...INDIA--Telecom operators may hold back investments in existing networks if there are any further delays in the auction of 3G spectrum, say experts..."

iPhone 3G

Well... what can I say, I know its a bit late to report the launch, but just in case you haven't heard about it, iPhone 3G is here!. Although not in India yet, but it'll be here sooner than later(Probably this September, as my local apple reseller tells me).

It will be released in 20 countries on 11th July 2008. Later this year it will expand to 70 countries(including India). The price that is set for July 11 release is $199, which is a big drop from earlier price of $399 for the 8GB version.

Hopefully, it will be released in India with a similar (or same) price tag. And that my friend, is f******g Awesome!

What else? A straight from heaven feature that some call GPS. I mean, common... who would buy any other phone now.
I have this exam thing going on, so I'll have to keep it short. For more details watch the video, if you haven't already.

Cheers :)

iPhone Update 6th May

Vodafone sews up iPhone distribution Register, UK By Bill Ray → More by this author Vodafone has signed a deal with Apple to distribute the iPhone in ten of its operating countries - several of which are ...

It's Vodafone Bringing Apple iPhone to India Techtree.com, India by bilgiustam.c... It's official now! Apple and Vodafone have penned a deal to sell the Apple iPhone in ten countries around the world including India. ...

Apple to offer 3G iPhone in Italy International Herald Tribune, France By Kevin J. O'Brien BERLIN: : Apple plans to begin selling the long-awaited, faster 3G version of its best-selling iPhone by the August summer holidays in ...

RPT-UPDATE 1-Vodafone scores first deal to sell Apple's iPhone Reuters LONDON, May 6 (Reuters) - Mobile phone group Vodafone (VOD.L: Quote, Profile, Research) scored its first deal to sell Apple Inc's (AAPL. ...

Vodafone Will Sell IPhone in Ten Countries PC World Customers in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey will be able to purchase the iPhone ...

Vodafone to offer iPhone in India Business Standard, India Telecom operator Vodafone will offer the much awaited iPhone in India. The telecom giant has signed an agreement with Apple to sell the iPhone in ten of its ...

Apple to release 8Gb model in India

Reports suggests that Apple will enter India's exploding mobile phone market this september with the humble 8GB model with an unreasonably high price tag of around Rs 28000.

With iPhone prices being slashed in European and American market, its likely that within weeks iPhone would be available for Rs 16000 or so in the sprouting iPhone gray market in India.

iPhone official release in India might actually increase the gray market sales, for consumers won't see any point in spending almost twice as much money for a legal model which is no different than the unlocked ones. Only difference being that they won't be able to upgrade their phone's software.

One might think, 'Why the hell would I wan't to upgarde my iPhone's software? I never had to do it for my Nokia or any other phone I ever had'.

iPhone Update 21st Apr

Apple To Bring 8GB iPhone To India For Rs 28000
News Locale - Gulbarga,Karnataka,India
The Business Standard reports that iPhone in India will be unveiled by Vodafone, which recently entered the Indian market with its acquisition of Hutch. ...

iPhone Underground
Foreign Policy (subscription) - USA
Nokia, for instance, recently found that more than 50 percent of users in India share or want to share a phone. Mobile-phone companies appear to be getting ...

Vodafone to launch iPhone in India - and Australia?
iTWire - Australia
India's Business Standard newspaper reports that Vodafone will launch the iPhone in India in the first week of September and quotes Apple ...

Vodafone will reportedly carry iPhone in India in September
Ars Technica - Boston,MA,USA
That day may be coming soon, though, since Rediff is reporting that the iPhone will be coming to India in September of this year and that Vodafone will be ...

Create iPhone news alert

If you are reading this blog then you probably be interested in getting the lastest news on iPhone as and when it happens. Wouldn't it be nice, if instead of searching on the internet you get news directly in your mailbox.
Google News offers a service called 'News Alert'. If you are already using it, great but if have no idea what I am talking about. Google defines their service as "Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic."

Some hany uses of Google News Alert include :

• monitoring a developing news story
• keeping current on a competitor or industry
• getting the latest on a celebrity or event
• keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams

Searching the internet for clues to probable release date of iPhone in India seemed very frustrating and tiresome. Since the day I registered a news alert with google news I never had to search for news, instead any 'iPhone India' related news directly came to my inbox as and when it was published. Registering a news alert is as simple as it can get. All you have to do is to fill a simple form with just four fields : Your search term ; Type of news(news/blog/web/etc.) ; How Often (As it happens/daily/weekly) ; and finally your email address. Thats it.

Below is how I filled it. and here are the email alerts I recieves lately :I love this Google service just like most google services.Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Video of iPhone on Hutch network

If are one those who are still skeptical about unlocked iPhone supporting all networks in India, see this video of an unlocked Iphone on Hutch (now Vodafone) network.

Unlocked iPhones in India

Like I mentioned in the previous post, there are many sites that are selling unlocked versions of the Apple iPhone in India. Here's an exhaustive list of some of the sites I came across.

• www.iphonenirvana.net : Rs 28,990
• www.gadgets.in : Rs 24,994
• www.ebay.in : Rs 20,000 to 31,000

If you don't want to buy online you can always pay a visit to the Delhi's Palika Bazaar or the Heera Panna shopping complex in Mumbai or other similar markets in your locality.
I would suggest you to wait till iPhone is officially released and then compare the prices of the legal model with unlocked model following which you'll be in a better position to take the right decision about buying the iPhone.

iPhone to be released in India

Or atleast thats what I hope.

Heard the buzz that iPhone will probably be released in India around September of this year. Which is not too bad, since I wasn't expecting it any earlier. If the 'buzz' is to be believed, Vodafone would be the exclusive GSM service provider for the iPhone in India and the price of the 'Jesus' phone as some may like to call it would be around Rs 28000 thats like $700 dollar or so.

The current market price of iPhone in US is between $400-$500. I am not sure why there is such a big difference between expected indian price and the current US price, probably its customs and all that crap but still parting with Rs 28000 won't be easy . Specially when cheaper unlocked models of the iPhone are already available in the gray market for Rs 23000 to Rs 25000.

Speaking of unlocked iPhones, aren't they illegal to sell. I have seen some sites publically advertising unlocked iPhones. Either Apple is too lazy to confront them or perhaps Apple thinks there won't be enough buyers for unlocked phones as such phones cannot connect to iTunes to get firware upgrades. Trying that would again lock those phones and render them useless.

I hope they do release the iPhone this September and when they do it, they better keep the prices reasonable. (I guess Rs 20000 would be reasonable for the 8GB version)