Whether the Apple iPhone is really worth Rs. 31,000 and Rs. 36,100 is an argument that’s debatable for hours together, but it is now almost certain that iPhone has almost failed in India. There was a lot of hype generated a few months before its launch, but all that seems to have died down owing to its high price or lack of features compared to other phones available in the market. 

Both the official carriers in the country, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone have been trying all sorts of advertising techniques to woo new customers. Compared to Vodafone, Airtel has been a little more aggressive in their product promotion. They planned midnight launches across 3 cities in the country for the iPhone 3G, the first of its kind in India. The country’s largest carrier also has a series of Official Apple Ads for the iPhone 3G running on TV. 

Even then, the response from the Indian Public has been moderate to very little. No long have been seen outside the retails outlets, not that they were expected at all. I’d largely blame the outright payment that a customer needs to make in order to buy the iPhone. Almost all the potential buyers in India have it etched onto their minds that the phone is available in the US at an initial payment of around Rs. 8500. No wonder there was wide-spread disappointment among the masses when the carriers announced the prices of the phone in India.

Hoping to attract customers who are interested to buy the phone, but have been staying away due to the high price, Airtel has entered into a partnership with a few banks to offer EMI options. These banks, in partnership with VISA will now offer easy financing options for buying the iPhone 3G. Customers who hold VISA cards from ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, SBI or Citibank will be eligible for these EMI options. The duration of EMI ranges from 9 to 24 months.

Mr Sanjay Gupta, CMO (Mobile Services) for Bharti Airtel said:

Our partnership with VISA will provide a new opportunity for consumers, who aspire to own the revolutionary iPhone 3G. The EMI option is designed to make it simple, convenient and affordable. We are confident that initiatives such as these will further widen the market of iPhone 3G in India.

 

Even though the phone will be made available on monthly installments, it still does not give enough reasons to buy the Gadget of the Year. Most enthusiasts argue that the phone cannot be used to its fullest potential due to the lack of 3G services in India. For them, BSNL may just provide the breather they were looking for.

The state-owned telecom operator, which covers the whole of India except for Mumbai and India, has already been granted the 3G spectrum along with MTNL and have already rolled out test services in Pune. How is this good news for the iPhone 3G enthusiasts? The financialexpress reports BSNL will introduce the Apple iPhone 3G by December this year, the same time it rolls out its 3G services. 

The government has already begun its process of auctioning the 3G spectrum to private operators on Monday. So hope is not lost for subscribers of the private carriers, although they may have to wait a little longer.

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