The iPods and iPhones alike (as pointed out by someone else as well) take a lot of innovations and design to get to that shape. That ‘lot’ is actually money. It is that simple difference of research budget that creates the difference between a Samsung and an iPhone. Although both may be expensive, the iPhone will be more user friendly while the Samsung will come loaded with a million things which are impossible to use.

As for someone pointing out that if you take apart an iPhone and count the pennies, well.. again ‘it’s not really a fruit even though it’s apple’.. innovation and design has a cost, its the cost that makes an iPod different from a transcend MP3 player. Both play music, i can guarantee that both sound almost the same, but it’s the iPod you want to buy.

IF the cost is justified then its ok, but Apple artificially drives up the price of the Iphone and Ipod, thats what i hate.

My 2nd para was just an expression which meant that for weastern bigshots, Indian market is a quantity market,not quality one.Very much so for Apple and Co.

Now I totally agree with what you said about Apple.But I’m not sure that only the price tag of Apple’s products made it difficult for Apple to penetrate the Indian market.ipod was a revolutionary New product(it was much more than a mp3 player).Every new product is highly priced.Just remember how much a PC would cost you 10 to 15 years ago? Or a cellphone?So I would say that price doesn’t always matter.I think we (Indian Gov. Bodies) didn’t co-operated with Apple as we did with Microsoft.Isn’t it obvious?

Apple came up with iphone on june 2007.Another mindblowing product.They have filed 300 patents related to the technology behind the iPhone.Priced at around 22k.High priced?Well may be.Can you blame them?

Secondly, if you know apple you know that it is a very American company.And For America we are …….you know what

According to me Apple is a very elitist company, they care very less about their customers. The Ipods which sell for 18k in India cost Apple barely $100 to make as has been proven by many electronics experts who took apart the Ipod ,and attract very little duty being IT products, still they are this expensive in India.

Apple doesnt want everyone to have Apple products, thats their thing, there is a society of Apple customers and they would prefer to keep it that way , sharing the ‘apple experience’. If Microsoft encourages Indian customers, nothing wrong in it, the Xbox 360’s India launch was in sync with the worldwide launch.

For big American & European Companies the Indian market is more or less like a Sabji Mandi.i.e. you just have to sit with your product,no matter how bad or good it is there is always enough people who would invest eventually.

Dont know what you mean here ?

But I guess there will be a day when Email will reach that level.

She actually has a second hand 6600 , which is a cool phone, although i doubt she understands whats symbian about. Blackberry, hmmm , i guess push email would make her more accessible

How to get rid of AT&T contract on the Iphone :

1. Sell your current contract. For this you can use CellSwapper, CellTradeUSA or Resellular.

2. Start complaining to AT&T like a little girl about everything you can think of and force them to end the contract. Also, a mention about some government agency wouldn’t hurt.

3. Wait for a change in rates, like text-messages rates, and then you have the right to cancel the contract.

4. Move somewhere outside the plan’s coverage area. Ok, this could mean you must move to Cambodia but hey, it’s the iPhone we’re talking about.

5. Joined the armed forces. If you are called to “active duty” you can automatically cancel your contract. No comment.

6. Fax in your death certificate, or, to be more realistic, have someone fax it for you. This is extreme but, remember, you must get the iPhone, and nothing can stop you.

My sister stays in US.
I asked my sister to get an Iphone for me, i.e. 199$(Rs. 8500),
But she replied that, They are not getting the unlocked Iphone in US and they are only getting iPhone with a 2 year contract with AT&T, and that is why, she is not able to get for me.
Do you know any other possibility,
Please reply asap, as she is coming to India end of July.

Thanks in advance,

Vikas