I guess the front page Vodafone ad yesterday would have excited many. " Apple iPhone 3G , Coming Soon. " Both Airtel and Vodafone had earlier announced their tie-ups with Apple to bring the iPhone in India, and have now started pre-bookings.Since then Apple has launched the new iPhone3G, with 3G and inbuilt GPS.

The good news is that we will now get the new iPhone3G in India.Some of the new additions in the iPhone 3G are:
  • Slimmer, Sleeker
  • 3.5 mm standard headphone jack
  • Integrated GPS unit ( Can't wait for this !!! )
  • Better battery life
  • Lower price, iPhone 3G 8GB for $199(Rs.8500),16GB for $299(Rs.13000 approx.)
Assuming that Steve keeps his promise of pricing the iPhone same anywhere in the world, a 8GB Apple iPhone3G would be a steal.But hang on.For people who are wondering why the iPhone is being launched by Airtel and Vodafone and why not Apple itself, the iPhone will come bundled with a service contract with the network operator for a specific period of time (2 year etc.) .The phone will work with only that operator, like a CDMA phone.( Obviously I'm taking about the Genuine ones, one can always go and help himself with an unlocked version...).So that will take its cost much higher than the price of the phone.Looking at India, we have no 3G services, so we will not have any Data Plans(for Internet), like in the US.Anything under 10k would be very well lapped up by the Indian Mobile buyers.

In the meanwhile, current market leaders are already feeling the iPhone heat.Nokia's CEO has already made his fear's public.Motorola and Samsung are already planning their iPhone Killers.

Nonetheless, I wait eagerly for the iPhone debut in India!