iPhone 3G is now the largest selling mobile phone in the US according to TechCrunch. Apple sold nearly 7 million iPhone units in the last quarter itself surpassing Motorola Razr as well as the BlackBerry Curve.
But the story is very different if we look at the iPhone 3G sales in India for the same period. According to numbers published in Business Today, Apple managed to sell only 4,000 headsets in India so far since the official launch that happened some three months ago.
While these are official numbers (and some people still buy iPhone from grey channels), they do indicate that the high price of iPhone ($800+) is kind of playing spoil-sport here in India.
And the mobile phone operators put the blame on Apple since it is the one who fixed the price of iPhone in India - "As a service provider, we are simply providing the iPhone experience to our customers. The price of the phone has been fixed in tandem with Apple and there is no room for us [Airtel] to keep a profit margin."
Find this article at: http://www.labnol.org/gadgets/phones/iphone-3g-sales-figures-in-india/5320/
web: http://www.labnol.org/ email: amit@labnol.org
Reader Comments
The high cost is one factor. Another thing could be that, there are not enough 3G service providers in India. And basically India is not a country with lots of Apple fans. The MAC books have to struck hard too…
Written by Arun Basil Lal on 11.11.08
I don’t think these figures are going to change unless and until the price of iPhone 3G is revised (in India)
Written by iChaitanya on 11.11.08
That’s true.
The problem is with the price and Apple has everything to be blamed for it!!.
Written by Rohit on 11.11.08
No surprise. It was meant to fail in India. Steve probably got convinced that we had 3G in India, already.
Written by Mani Karthik on 11.11.08
In India the scenario is v.different altogether. People are free to use whatever handset they want to use, which is very unlike the setup in the US. There’s no foreseeable chance of iPhone gaining market share in India until unless it is priced sub 15-18K.
Written by Supreet on 11.11.08
Indians are not fools to shell out 31K for that crappy!!
Written by tweakwindows on 11.11.08
Hi,
If the other cell manufacture companies like nokia, sony ericcsson put the price which is less than iphone, we cannot see that figures also.
Written by vamshi on 11.11.08
Price is the only major deterrent for iPhone. Had been around 20k (400$). It would have been one of the highest selling handset. Checkout N95/N82, they are more popular handsets here. Retailing for somewhere between 18-22k.
Also, APPLE products are popular here but again their unnecessary snobbish pricing is out of reach for many people.
Written by prashant on 11.12.08
I planned to get one, but the cost made me not to buy. I can buy some bike or some other needful thing with that amount.
Written by Bharat on 11.12.08
Its only a matter of time before this phone is suppported by most major networks across the world. some of the carriers have locked into contracts but within a year these would be freed up.
With talk of 4G around the corner..we might see more action in future
Written by iphone 3g on 11.12.08
soon nokia 5800 will be launched under 25k ….no one will buy iphone den
Written by haider_up32 on 11.12.08
Hope at least apple the great open its eyes and have a look at Indian consumer.
How silly it is to believe that $200 phone in USA will be bought for $800 the developing country.
Written by suresh on 11.13.08