iPhone hits major Indian cities

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iPhone hits major Indian cities

Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI: The iconic touch-screen iPhone from the U.S.-technology major Apple was launched here at midnight on Thursday at glittering functions organised by the two leading mobile operators, Airtel and Vodafone Essar.

Priced at Rs. 31,000 for the 8 GB model and Rs. 36,100 for the 16 GB one, Apple has exclusively tied up with the two operators that will initially sell the latest iPhone 3G from their outlets in the four metros — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata — besides Hyderabad and Bangalore. Apart from exclusive outlets of mobile operators, iPhone will also be available at Apple stores.

Both Airtel and Vodafone Essar will be selling the iPhone with non-cancellable contract, offering its users various data and other plans. Soon the Apple smartphone will be available in over 50 cities across India.

“We are offering an attractive bolt-on data plan , offering free 500 MB a month, for the first 12 months for all iPhone users, besides giving m-check e-commerce service and access to our portal Airtel Live,” said Sanjay Kapoor, Airtel’s President (Mobile Services).

Mr. Kapoor said iPhone users would typically be high-ARPU (average revenue per user) customers who were technologically savvy and wanted a best-in-class infotainment device.

Mr. Kapoor said over 2 lakh customers had pre-registered with Airtel after it announced plans to launch the phone in India about a fortnight ago. He, however, did not reveal the number of bookings. “The numbers would be out only after two weeks. But I can say the response has been very encouraging,” he added. Airtel has kept the advance money at Rs. 5,000 and the balance is to be paid at the time of delivery of the device; Vodafone is asking a booking amount of Rs. 10,000.

Asked about the high price of the iPhone compared to developed markets such as the U.S. where the mobile gadget costs the equivalent of Rs. 8,500, Mr. Kapoor said India was primarily a pre-paid market while the U.S. was mainly a post-paid market where phone bundling was not common. “We are offering various data and other packages with the iPhone, therefore the prices are high. An iPhone without bundling would cost the same as in other developed markets,” he added.

Referring to their sales strategy and support, Mr. Kapoor said: “To deliver world class experience in Airtel stores, we have extensively trained more than 3,000 employees in 41 towns in sales and service of the device.”