Apple has authorised Bharti Airtel to ‘unlock’ its 3G iPhones, launched earlier, enabling the Indian company to sell it through their stores to any user, not necessarily only an Airtel subscriber.
This is in contrast to the existing practice of Apple in offering the iPhones — launched in two versions, 8 GB and 16 GB — bundled with the services of only two operators, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone-Essar.
According to Apple’s global support site, Bharti Airtel has been authorised to legally unlock the iconic handsets in the country. Vodafone in Australia, Orange in Austria and Movistar in Argentina are among the 40 global carriers (Airtel is the only one in India) authorised to unlock the handsets.
The companies may also charge an additional fee for the unlocking, the website said.
When asked, a Bharti Airtel spokesperson declined to comment. Apple’s spokesperson could not be spoken to.
According to sources, this means Bharti Airtel will continue to sell the handsets in the country, but it necessarily would not be exclusive to its user. A user can walk into Airtel’s retail showrooms and buy an iPhone and use it with his or her existing connection. Airtel had a signed an agreement with Apple in May 2008 and was the second provider of the service in the country.
Meanwhile, bloggers said that unlocked iPhones were available in India at certain select retail outlets, and the phones were being sold at the prices at which Airtel and Vodafone were selling the locked ones. However, this could not be confirmed.
In India, the 8 GB model costs around Rs 31,000, while the 16 GB is priced at Rs 36,000. Apple will also launch the latest version, iPhone 3GS, billed as the “fastest, most powerful iPhone yet”, on August 9.
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Hi, I got my iPhone unlocked OFFICIALLY, which I had got from Airtel 13 months ago. It was painful though. For 1 week, I wrote mails to NodalOfficer.KK@airtel.in & 121@airtelindia.com, but it did not help.
Then my friend visited the Airtel Showroom where I had bought the iPhone. And those guys finally got it unlocked. I had send them email at kk.brandshop1@airtel.in.
Total time taken : 2 weeks
Actual unlocking : 1 day (rest of the time went in just emails & visiting Airtel)
The Airtel interface that worked: Airtel showroom where I had bought the iPhone.
Earlier, on request, Airtel unlocked iPhone after 12 months. Though currently it seems that Airtel no longer officially unlocks it http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937.
Now I am successfully using my iPhone in Finalnd with a local operator.
Airtel has unlocked my Iphone 3G, following the end of the one year contract. free of charge!
they asked me to wait 20 days and at the end of the wait, confirmed to me the unlocked status.
Hurrah!
thanks Airtel and Apple.
P.s.
Proof of unlocked status can be seen at
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AQkA-kgsSHPhZGdmOGc1YnhfMGc3NmQ1bnRx&hl=en
you can write to me at my mail address for details.
Posted by: Vikram
November 02 , 2009, 23:47 IST
Did you really get your iPhone unlocked ? Did you take it to an airtel service station, or did they do it over the air. Could you please tell me, what is the procedure I must follow? Thanx.
The story says that airtel will unlock my iPhone but custome care does not know about this. Can the news team please confirm with airtel f they will actually be offering to unlock one year old phones.
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what unlocked phones and locked ones have the same cost ? If other network users need iphone they can get from local sellers for cheaper rates. Then why one from apple. :-)
Cost of the iphone is no high for the market, It cost $99 in US and 31000 Rs($660) in India.Apple has to review the prices for iphone.
Posted by: krishna
June 17 , 2009, 01:47 IST
The $99 comes with a two year contract with a minimum bill of $40 per month, so the cost is more or less the same...its just that most of the people in India are not aware of this :-)
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