Unlock Apple iPhone

The iPhone 3g released in India: What is the big deal?
The iPhone has lured people for several reasons. It has been touted as the best smartphone available. Now the Iphone 3g is ready to overwhelm the Indian cellphone markets which is booming with over a billion potential new Iphone owners. The iPhone 3g is being marketed as a combination of multiple devices, so you have a phone, an iPod, an internet-device in one pocket equipment. There are, of course, other things like camera, GPS etc. The extraordinary, smart interface makes for the face-value attraction.

Let’s glance at what the iPhone offers:
• Smart keyboard
• Built-in iPod
• Internet facilities
• 3G network speed advantage
• GPS advantage
• Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
• Scientific calculator
• Large-scale application storage
• Camera and photo storage

What is its future in India?
Is the iPhone over-hyped? It will seem so, what with India giving it a less than a lukewarm response at its launch here. The upper-middle class and the techie professionals in India had been waiting for the iPhone to arrive in India; however, its price deterred them from going for it. Let us look at factors which may or may not make it work in India.

It will not work.
High price: The price of the Apple iPhone is too high even for the ones who were all set to buy the iPhone whatever be its cost. The price of the 8-GB iPhone is Rs. 31,000 while the 16-GB version comes at Rs. 36,100. The price is almost four times what the people in the US are paying for it. The iPhone starts at 199 dollars in the US.

Missing Features: The iPhone may be beyond the league of its closest competitors, it lacks certain features that the others offer. The iPhone does not have the video recording feature which its competitors offer. Among other disappointments is the 2 megapixel camera that comes with the iPhone. At a time when people do not look at anything less than 5 megapixel, the iPhone’s offer does not appeal.

Limited Bluetooth: The urbane Indian gadget-lover has become accustomed to using the Bluetooth feature for data transfer. Unfortunately, the Bluetooth feature in iPhone is limited in its scope; it only lets you make hands-free calls.

No FM: The Indian public uses the phone also as a means to unwind while travelling. With no FM capability, the iPhone may prove to be a complete disappointment for music lovers.

Fixed service providers: In India, a mobile user has to go for the Airtel or Vodafone service to be able to use the iPhone. This restricts choices for users, making it inconvenient for them.

It should work.
3G Networks: With the growth of 3G networks in India, the iPhone may finally pick up.

Expected decrease in price: If Apple reduces the iPhone’s price in India, people will definitely go for it.

On-the-go advantage: With audio, video and internet features plugged in together, the iPhone is a good deal for the people who want to be connected and in reach of their music and files all the time. IPhone makes sense for the people on the go.