iPhone 3G: Steve Ne Oolu Banaya
Undoubtedly the iPhone is one of the sweetest inventions in recent times. Well at least in my books. And I wouldn’t be wrong in stating, countless others share the same view. Released on 29th June 2007 (in the US), in matter of weeks the world was gripped in its craze. I remember constantly eyeing eBay iPhone sellers, looking for that ‘one’ perfect deal. (The temporary trauma that came along with my iPhone package, let’s just say I still have nightmares about paperweight iPhones.)
But all that was then, iPhone is now old news. What is in the news however is its rejuvenated version – the iPhone 3G.
The 3G model is yet to be released (a week from now to be precise) and I know tons of folks who can’t wait to get their hands on this beauty. Yours truly included, I mean after all it does fall within my "all things sexy" category.
Besides all the new features such as the two colour options (Black/White), 16 GB option, 2 megapixels camera, 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, App store and Microsoft Exchange, the most attractive bit of all is its marketed price; $199 for 8 GB model & $299 for 16 GB model. Now when converted into Indian rupees, the amount sounds easy on the ears and the pocket.
But if you go by this report you will realize things are not always what they seem, especially good things.
The iPhone 3G will cost Rs 20,000 in India - the costliest in the world.
The iPhone 3G will be free in the UK as it’s subsidised by O2, a service provider; it’s 1 Euro (Rs 70) in Germany, again subsidised by T-mobile and costs US$ 199 (Rs 8,557) in the USA, thanks to AT&T. The phone costs US$ 350 (Rs 15,050) in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines. It is not available in Dubai. [Link]
And if like me you too are thinking of purchasing this baby for lesser price via the ever-enterprising eBay or requesting your chacha’s wife’s grandfather’s cousin’s grandson to send you US-made maal – well then my darling, you are in for a disappointment.
US buyers will have to purchase a service contract with AT&T before leaving the store; you cannot buy it online. The phone has to be activated within 30 days or the buyer will be penalised. You cannot cancel the two-year contract with AT&T. Either a cancellation fee of 175$ (Rs 7,525) will be charged or the phone has to be returned.
And for my buddies in US of A who are jumping with joy (and mocking us poor souls back home) thinking about the dream figure; here’s a news flash for ya.
(Only) if you’re "upgrade eligible" (log into your AT&T account to see if you are), you’ll be able to buy the new iPhone for the discounted price of $199 for the 8GB version or $299 (INR 8,584.86) for the 16GB (INR 12,898.86) model. (AT&T is somewhat vague about the eligibility criteria, although your credit history and the time remaining on your contract are factors.) You’ll also have to pay an $18 "upgrade fee."
If you’re not eligible for the discount, you’ll have to fork over extra for an "early upgrade"-$399 for the 8GB iPhone 3G or $499 for the 16GB model. Ouch.
AT&T also says that a "no-commitment" (read: no contract) iPhone 3G will be available soon, at $599 for the 8GB version and or $699 for the 16GB handset. Pricey, but hey- no two-year contract.Unfortunately, AT&T won’t offer the new iPhone on a prepaid basis, at least not at launch. [Link]
Ha Ha Ha.
On a serious note though, personally speaking shelling 20 grand on an officially purchased iPhone isn’t much. In 2006 I had bought an unofficial Sony Ericson W900i for 25 grand and it didn’t have half the features present in the 3G iPhone. Also when you compare it to high-Nokia models currently in the market, the price of an iPhone is comparatively quite low.
So it only seems wiser to buy an official piece, the only drawback – can you wait for another 3 months?
(*Picture Source : Apple Inc)
We all have a right to express our views. In many instances; it will be against ours and in some; with us. To hear them out is 'decency' but to let them get to you is 'weakness'. 
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10 comments | Leave your comment
Jul 5th, 2008 at 7:33 am | #
Dear Saks, The Iphone is not worth at 20000 since it doesnt have many features like msg forwarding and all and 2 megapixel camera phone for 20000, you can easily get 3.2 megapixel camera phones for lesser and 5 megapixel ones for a bit more.
Jul 5th, 2008 at 2:26 pm | #
The coolth of this phone is waaaaay less than the resentment I expect to feel if I were dumb enough to buy this thing in any shape or form. Any company that thinks it’s cool enough to pull this shit off is a company that doesn’t value its customers.
Jul 5th, 2008 at 5:39 pm | #
Well, I hope you’ll find the iPhone to be worth your 20,000. The truth is that it’s an average phone, a bad camera and a very mediocre music player. The one place where the instrument really shines is as an internet device. But where in India would you find the Wi-Fi necessary to exploit such a device? GPRS is slow at best, and 3G networks don’t exist in India.
But yes, it’s a cool thing to show off. Once the phone’s UI loses its initial novelty, you’ll find that much of the phone’s features and functionality are actually below par compared to the Sony-Ericsson and Nokia models of the same price range.
Jul 5th, 2008 at 6:42 pm | #
Hi Sak,
Disclaimer : I respect the individual freedom and know that it is up to the individual to decide what to buy and what not to and also to decide how much money is to be spent and on what kind of things, but just a thought.
I just wonder why people have to buy a new phone everytime a “XYZ” company launches a new mobile (the same thing goes for iPod).
Dont you guyz have liquidity crunch in your(i mean those who are bying a new mobile every 3 months and not YOU sak) lives?
Are your lives picture perfect without any problems?
Dont you want to save money for a rainy day?
Dont you believe in creating wealth thru investmnets and other options(the same money could have been invested in MF or stocks or in Gold like things)
What I think is one should go for new gizmos only if they are really required and not because they are available in the market.
Or is it the case that you just want to flash it in ur frnd circle?
Think of people who dont know from where their next meal will come from, I’m not saying you to donate ur money to them but at least know the value of money.
You should know how valuable these 10K Rs(I’m assuming these being wasted on a new mobile phone even if you have one) will be just in case(god forbid) somebody from the family is hospitalized.
Dont just do things because someone else is doing or to show how mod/forward/progressive(and whatever ) you are .
Dont forget that the mobile you have was the coolest one in the market when you bought it , it will never stop; new modeles will keep coming.
I think as long as you have a decent mobile phone and you can receive/do call with ease there is no need to for a new mobile .
This is just consumerism and shows how money is beisng wasted on useless things(I know this in turn increase our GDP and GNP but the same money could have been spent on more creative things/ways)
Regards,
Arnie the annon
happy shopping for neweset and coolest things in the market
Sorry if i went overboard
Jul 6th, 2008 at 8:00 am | #
Death of the iPhone.
Anyways, OpenMoko’s Neo FreeRunner is, IMHO, a better option, for it is open hardware, open source software, costs the same as iPhone, and although lacks on storage, it (more than) compensates with an option to stick your USB drives in it. Moreover, it was released in India at the same time it was released in US(Fcing)A, so you won’t be paying to snooty morons!
Jul 6th, 2008 at 8:43 am | #
Sak,
iPhone will launch in India with the same $200 price tag. Your contract with the network operators (Airtel and Vodaphone) will be for a minimum 2 years. Airtel/Vodaphone will obviously club in their plan charges for a period of 2 years, thereby increasing the total cost to Rs 20k.
Apple will charge Rs 8250 for the hardware. It’s Airtel who will bring the cost to Rs 20k. Rs 20k for 24 months is what you pay. If we get 3G, free calls/SMSes and other VAS, then for Rs 830/month seems to be reasonable. Don’t confuse iPhone is costly. Remember you won’t pay network usage every month.
If your N 80 costs Rs 20k, please check how much you’re going to pay for 2 years to the network.
Jul 6th, 2008 at 1:21 pm | #
I followed the emotional roller-coaster ride of my friend (who returns to India in 2 weeks from US) while giving him snippets from the post. Talk about crash and burn
Jul 6th, 2008 at 5:25 pm | #
India as a wireless market is far (with emphasis on the word, far) more mature, consumer friendly and open to competition than the US which is worse than any so-called third world country. The only thing that US companies do is M&A (they just get bigger and eliminate competition between themselves). Call rates have been going up w/o any real change in rates of dropped calls or quality of reception. The US must be the only country in the world where operators are allowed to get away with daylight robbery- and charge both incoming and outgoing calls- even text messaging isn’t spared. Anything beyond voice costs an arm and a leg. Competition is non-existent- if you want to stay on GSM, there are a maximum of two choices and in many major markets only one.
You don’t want to compare the economics of the captive and locked iPhone to the thriving, successful wireless market in India and China. Indeed, Nokia, the world market share leader, has largely given up on the US market and rightfully so. The iPhone has an excellent and intuitive UI- but in terms of specifications and features competing phones have much better implementations. The camera in the iPhone is crap- try and compare the pictures taken from a K850i or a N82 side by side with the iPhone taken pictures.
Jul 8th, 2008 at 7:06 am | #
Wow. Fantastic response I must say. And now getting to the point, this is what I think :
If the price of the 3G iPhone is around 20-22 grand minus any sort of yearly contract with Airtel or Vodafone, I will go for it in a jiffy. But a contract is what I will be forced into a contract(even if the iPhone price is lesser than predicted), then the answer is a big NO.
In that case I will go with HTC Touch Diamond. A sexy piece I might add.
Aug 30th, 2008 at 5:52 am | #
Hi all,
After observing all of your comments, I am not denying your point. But should see other side of coin also. The other markets
which are available with the same features or similar features were/are also priced very high. Eg Nokia E 90 @ >Rs.30000/-
Nokia N 95 .Rs.25000, HTC Touch diamond @ Rs.27500/-, Samsung Omania @ Rs. 35 K plus, BlackBerry 8820 @32000.
So, as a whole if somebody who is targeting for this budget, it does not seem high when you buy a product from Apple. I have
very good image of Apple in my mind.
Hope to listen from other netizens.
Thanks
Rajiv
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