iPhone in India: prices unveiled

The much-awaited iPhone will be available in India from 22nd August onwards by the country's top mobile operators Bharti Airtel and Vodafone.
Bharti Airtel Ltd. announce just a few hours earlier that it will sell Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) third-generation 8gb iPhone in India, the world's fastest-growing mobile market, for INR31,000 ($709).

Bharti Airtel will begin retailing the iPhone at three company-owned outlets - one each in Gurgaon town on the outskirts of New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore - at 12 a.m. (1830 GMT) on Aug. 22, the mobile operator said in an e-mail to its subscribers who had signed up for updates on the iPhone's forthcoming launch.

The 16gb model will be available for $36,100, the email said..

Their rival Vodafone Essar, India's third-largest mobile operator, will also be charging Apple's iPhone 3G at 31,000 rupees ($708) for the 8GB model, a senior company official, said on Wednesday,

Vodafone Essar will be selling the 16gb model at 36,100 rupees ($824).
Ironically, the new iPhone sells for as low as $199 in the United States.


Source: Reuters and CNN