Probably the cheapest iPhone in the world: On India's Aircel

[Mr.Wick]

Indian operator Aircel sprung a pleasant surprise Friday by announcing that it had slashed the iPhone 3GS price to Rs. 9,999 (US $180). While the iPhone 3GS is available for free on a contract in the US, as far as total cost of ownership is concerned, the Aircel deal is probably the cheapest iPhone anywhere in the world.

Aircel is offering the black 8GB iPhone 3GS for an upfront payment of Rs. 9,999 (US $180) and an "advance rental" of Rs. 3,000 (US $55). This advance rental gets you 2GB of 3G data per month for an year or 1000 minutes and 2500 text messages per month for 6 months.

The icing on the cake is that the phones are unlocked, which means you are free to take the phone anywhere in the world, and put in a SIM of your choice. That's right, an unlocked iPhone for a total cost of $235 ($180 + $55).

As a contrast, in the US you can pick-up an iPhone 3GS 8GB for free but with a two-year $39.99 a month contract. That's a whooping $960 over the 24 months, and the device is locked to AT&T for the length of the contract.

Alternatively, you can pick up an unlocked iPhone for an up-front $375 in the US, £319.00 ($498) in the UK, HKD 2,888 ($372) in Hong Kong, A$449 ($465) in Australia or Euro 349 ($424) in Spain. That makes the Aircel iPhone 3GS the cheapest by a wide-margin - $137 or around Rs. 7500.

Probably the cheapest iPhone in the world: On India's Aircel | NDTV Gadgets

 

[Markus]

I read about this but I want to wait till Windows Phone 8 comes out before making a choice.

 

[third eye]

Unlocked ..

Does it mean one can buy this and put an AIRTEL SIM ?

 

[Markus]

Unlocked ..

Does it mean one can buy this and put an AIRTEL SIM ?

Yes but then you will lose out on the upfront payment that you have yo make, which will be adjusted against data/calls/sms for one year.

If you change SIM, you will loose out on that.

 

[Fazlu]

Aircel is not so bad. Infact, its actually pretty good.

 

[Raja.Pakistani]

No you can get unlocked iphone 3gs for 150 or 160 pounds these days

You can get decent condition Iphone 4 or 4s in £319.00 pounds without any contracts

 

[joekrish]

It is a good start for guys who always wanted to buy an iPhone but could not buy it or did not want to spend the money.

 

[Mr.Wick]

I read about this but I want to wait till Windows Phone 8 comes out before making a choice.

Not a big fan of Windows, more of an Android lover...

 

[Markus]

Not a big fan of Windows, more of an Android lover...

WP 8 is going to be amazing.

 

[IZVINITE]

WP 8 is going to be amazing.

I am Using Lumia 800 & I Love it. WP are the future...

 

[third eye]

The prob is that one will have to take a new number as well

 

[Markus]

I am Using Lumina 800. WP are the future...

Lumia 800 is WP7...WP8 will be far more robust than WP7.....but I fully AGREE WP is the future.

 

[IZVINITE]

You can Port Your # to Aircel; then you may not need to get a New #.

 

[Archie]

Indian operator Aircel sprung a pleasant surprise Friday by announcing that it had slashed the iPhone 3GS price to Rs. 9,999 (US $180). While the iPhone 3GS is available for free on a contract in the US, as far as total cost of ownership is concerned, the Aircel deal is probably the cheapest iPhone anywhere in the world.

Aircel is offering the black 8GB iPhone 3GS for an upfront payment of Rs. 9,999 (US $180) and an "advance rental" of Rs. 3,000 (US $55). This advance rental gets you 2GB of 3G data per month for an year or 1000 minutes and 2500 text messages per month for 6 months.

The icing on the cake is that the phones are unlocked, which means you are free to take the phone anywhere in the world, and put in a SIM of your choice. That's right, an unlocked iPhone for a total cost of $235 ($180 + $55).

As a contrast, in the US you can pick-up an iPhone 3GS 8GB for free but with a two-year $39.99 a month contract. That's a whooping $960 over the 24 months, and the device is locked to AT&T for the length of the contract.

Alternatively, you can pick up an unlocked iPhone for an up-front $375 in the US, £319.00 ($498) in the UK, HKD 2,888 ($372) in Hong Kong, A$449 ($465) in Australia or Euro 349 ($424) in Spain. That makes the Aircel iPhone 3GS the cheapest by a wide-margin - $137 or around Rs. 7500.

Probably the cheapest iPhone in the world: On India's Aircel | NDTV Gadgets

This is awesome for those wishing to get onto IOS bandwagon
I paid Rs 20000 For 3GS in yr 2011

 

[Bobby]

I am gonna buy today....I lost one last year......Never dare to buy another again due to high cost