“I don’t think anyone will buy the iPhone at this price. But there is hope for Airtel and Vodafone if they have a store near a mental hospital–provided the patient has enough money with him.”

Indiatimes via ContentSutra
Also: Suckers!

Technorati Tags: Apple, iphone, airtel, vodafone, iphone 3g, iphone india pricing, iphone price

Vodafone has sent this out today:

The above, if you ask me, the one with the discerning eye, points to the fact that the iPhone will cost Rs 30,000-plus. D-uh! I can’t understand why Apple would position this as a super premium product. Sure the subsidies offered in the US are not available to the Indian consumer but at 31k+, they have driven away the largest potential market of 18-24 for whom this is an uber cool gadget to have.

Which also means that the unlock market is safe and will flourish further. Especially for handsets that are brought into India from outside. I mean, who will spend 30k+ when they can get the same for about 15-20k?

The fact also remains that those who badly wanted an iPhone already have one. They aren’t going to wait till even this weekend for the official stuff. Don’t matter to them. So who is left? Those who can’t get one from the US and those who can’t afford the illegal one. Well both parties won’t be too keen on this offering either.

Incidentally, I am selling my first generation iPhone. 8 Gig. Current cost in India is Rs 31,000! Mine’s about seven months old. In mint condition as they say. Upgraded to 1.1.4. Make an offer, if you wish.

I defend Apple at every opportunity. I run down Microsoft as if they owe me money. I try and buy only Apple products and genuine software. I have an unlocked iPhone and would have wanted the 3G official one. But alas and alak, this leaves me no option. Apple has disappointed me. They are a bad apple. Bad Apple.

I must turn to Symbian for my next fix. The Nokia E66 continues to look tempting. What say?

P.S.: I didn’t pre-register. A friend who did shared the above mailer. Hence “Hello Atul”!

Technorati Tags: apple, iphone, 3g, vodafone, iphone india, gadgets, iphone 3g, iphone price india, india iphone cost

As my favourite humor writer (and now tech as it seems!) points out:

The 8 GB version of the iPhone 3G will cost Rs. 31,000, while the 16 GB version will cost between Rs. 36,000 and Rs. 37,000.

These prices are not inclusive of the plan these phones will come bundled with.

So there. Go cry. If you don’t want to cry, I am selling mine (seems silly, but it still costs about 25% less than the price of the new one) and you can make an offer!

Of course, the above is subject to the prices not being rumors (is the Apple PR machinery at work here?).

Anyways, there isn’t any point in buying the 3G phone at this price when you can’t even use the 3G.

While on the subject, I had recently listed a few things to write on and this is one of them. So may as well!

The reasons I am bored of my iPhone:

1. It has lost the novelty value. Anyone has it!
2. My concentration span for a phone is six months max. In that sense, the iPhone has been the longest I’ve had a phone in a while (at 8 months, it beats the previous ones: E61i lasted 4 months, M600i for 6, P990i for four, MotoRAZR for four, O2 Atom for three prior to the Jesus phone)
3. I have my eyes on something else (no peeking!)
4. I want a keypad phone
5. I discovered BlackBerry. So I want my ‘regular’ phone to be basic… don’t need it for mailing or browsing since I have an unlimited plan on the BB.
6. Sliders have caught my fancy
7. Touchscreen is now passe (for me)

So there. I said it. Any offers? Leave a comment.

Now if only I could remember where I read that… tech2.com or ibnlive.com?

At 3.15pm today, the spell was still on! The original screenshot was taken on June 10… over a week ago!