Apple !!! Please make iPhone affordable in India !

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Author: lsprakash

Started: August 22, 2008, 10:43:34 am

Target: Apple Inc, Vodafone Essar Ltd, Bharti Airtel Ltd

Category: Uncategorized

Supporters:

Goal:

100,000

Goal Progress:

Status

Active

22nd Aug 2008

Apple Inc,
Vodafone Essar Ltd,
Bharti Airtel Ltd.

When the iPhone 1 was released, we started praying in India that iPhone should be released in India soon. When Apple launched iPhone 2.0 we really hoped that this time we will get it for sure in India. One fine day, we heard the sweet news that we will be getting the iPhones in India during the current year itself. We were dreaming what we could do with our would be iPhones. Then comes the bombshell, that is the price. Rs31000/- for a 8GB model and Rs36000/- for a 16 GB model (that is roughly 720 USD for 8GB model and 837 USD for 16 GB model at current rates). This is a price we pay to get a fully functional Laptop.

Tens of thousands of Apple fans and iPhone wannabes in India have reached the boiling point with this outrageously exorbitant amount demanded by the officially sanctioned network operators in India to buy iPhone. Did somebody misplace the number '1' and '3'? Instead of 13000, is it priced 31000? Even by western standards where the affordability is higher, 800 USD is a really high price to pay for a iPhone. You are asking the poor indians who are just looking up to pay 800 USD? Are you making mockery of Indian people? While you can make it available for $199 in USA, it is $800+ in India !!! All this for our loyalty and eagerness to buy Apple products / iPhone. Ofcourse, we know the details that network operators in western countries subsidize iPhones, so dont bring your economic theories here.

There is no way we can afford $800 iPhone in India except probably few elite who can buy. We are deeply disappointed and sad with the way you have rolled out the iPhone. Business can only flourish by going with the society and being part of it. If there is anything you want to do, please make the iPhone available for people of India, not just for few elites. We are not asking you to give it free, we are just requesting you to charge a reasonable profit and sell it !!!

With high hopes,
Deeply disappointed iPhone fans in India

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Added by lsprakash @ August 22, 2008, 9:38 pm
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22nd Aug 2008

Apple Inc,
Vodafone Essar Ltd,
Bharti Airtel Ltd.

When the iPhone 1 was released, we wished that one day iPhone will be released in India. When Apple launched iPhone 2.0 we really hoped this time we will get it for sure in India. One fine day, we heard the sweet news that we will be getting the iPhones in India during the current year itself. We were dreaming what we could do with our would be iPhones. Then comes the bombshell, that is the price. Rs31000/- for a 8GB model and Rs36000/- for a 16 GB model (that is roughly 720 USD for 8GB model and 837 USD for 16 GB model at current rates). This is a price we pay to get a fully functional Laptop.

Tens of thousands of Apple fans and iPhone wannabes in India have reached the boiling point with this outrageously exorbitant amount demanded by you in India to buy iPhone. Did somebody misplace the number '1' and '3'? Instead of 13000, is it priced 31000? Even by western standards where the affordability is higher, 800 USD is a really high price to pay for a iPhone. You are asking the poor indians who are just beginning to see growth to pay 800 USD? 800 USD is approximately average per capita income per annum of Indians. While you can make it available for $199 in USA, it is $800+ in India !!! All this for our loyalty and eagerness to buy Apple products / iPhone. Ofcourse, we know the details that network operators in western countries subsidize iPhones, so don't bring your economic theories here.

There is no way we can afford $800 iPhone in India except probably few elite who can buy. We are deeply disappointed and sad with the way you have rolled out the iPhone. Business can only flourish by going with the society and being part of it. If there is anything good you want to do, please make the iPhone available for people of India, not just for few elites. We are not asking you to give it free, we are just requesting you to charge a reasonable profit and sell it !!!

With high hopes,
Deeply disappointed iPhone fans in India