Well the Iphone 3G will soon have its worldwide launch, but India stands to miss out yet again. While the Iphone is being launched even as we speak , its interesting to note the implications of the launch on Indian Iphone 3G enthusiasts:
1. India will most probably have an August 2008 launch for the Iphone 3G, unlike the normal perception India is having a deferred launch for the new Iphone. This has been confirmed by both Airtel and Vodafone.
2. The first operator to launch the Iphone 3G would be Vodafone in India, its expected to be a soft launch with a limited number of handsets. Vodafone beat Airtel to getting to be the pioneer handset manufacturer to procure the sets. Airtel will ofcourse launch soon afterwards, or may delay the launch till Diwali in order to get better sales. It will be interesting to note how Airtel combats the advantage that Vodafone will have of launching the Iphone early on in India before anyone else.
3. The price, as you know price is THE most important factor in the Indian market. The original Iphone was infact never launched in India many say due to the pricing. Anyway, the Iphone will not be $199 in India. Most are expecting it to be anywhere from 12000 rupees to 14000 rupees.
Also, unlike last time you wont be able to import and unlock, as the Iphones will be exclusively store activated in the US,the plan desertion and leaving charges will be enormous, making importing the Iphone 3G an expensive affair.
Keep looking at this space for more Iphone infomation !
Well the following companies have asked me to go paperless till now
Airtel
HDFC Bank
ICICI Bank
What that means is that i will only receive email statements and not the regular courier ones which they have to send. Most companies will tell you its to save trees. Infact Banks and credit card companies are pushing paperless financing. But do they really care ?
Well the answer is this :
While there is no doubt that going paperless will effectively help save trees, the fact that most companies hide from you is that they also save money. Logistics costs, postal costs, printing costs, paper costs,envelope costs are all saved when companies discontinue paper statements.
Most companies however see this environment aspect as a way to pocket money and evoke an emotional response in customers. Airtel being an exception did offer monetary incentive to people discontinuing paper statements in the form of a special offer.
However correct me if i am wrong ICICI bank and HDFC Bank did not offer any incentive to discontinue paper statements. They would rather pocket the money saved rather than share it with the consumer.
The money saved is substantial for most institutions, email statements cost virtually nothing to institutes. So the next time someone pushes paperless statements in your face, ask the bank how much money its saving on you and ask them to either give it to you in kind or donate it in your name.
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