iPhone 3GS India launch

Today Airtel and Vodafone have both launched iPhone3GS, not that I was looking forward to that anyway. The notable factor again as often the case with Apple product launches is, the price. 16GB iPhone 3GS is priced at Rs.35,500(~ $800) and 32GB one at Rs.41,500.

Suggesting the price is high would be an understatement. And that too, for a device which is a year old. Why should anyone buy this product at such exorbitant price when it's common knowledge that Apple would launch the next version of this in June.

For long, Indians have been taken for a ride being forced to buy outdated products at astronomical prices. What's even more ironic is, Apple has not launched the 8GB iPhone 3GS and opted to sell even more outdated iPhone 3G at Rs.29,900. Obviously, they didn't want to launch 3GS anything below Rs.30,000. It's really sad for the fan-boys who have been waiting for 3GS.

I proclaimed three years ago that iPhone would go on to become a great device and I still believe it's a great device despite it's many limitations. All my friends who own one seem to love it.

Update: The pricing is even more lame considering the phone will be network locked. Elsewhere, operators subsidize the phone for long term contracts.