Aircel launches iPhone-4 in Hyd

GSM mobile network operator Aircel, a 74:26 JV between Maxis Berhad of Malaysia and the Apollo Hospitals Group, launched the much-awaited iPhone 4 from the Apple’s stable in Hyderabad today.

Speaking to mediapersons after the launch at Technovision multi-branded mobile store here, Hamir Bakshi, regional business head (south), Aircel, said the company’s tie-up with Apple offered an important combination of Aircel’s 3G network and iPhone 4’s video calling features.

“Our association with Apple has just started. We have not set any specific targets in terms of sales numbers but are looking at the tie-up as an access point to a new profile of customers,” he said.

The 16GB Apple iPhone 4 will retail for Rs 34,500, and the 32GB version for Rs 40,900. It has two cameras – on the front which focuses on the user, and one on the back, which focuses on everything else.

Bakshi said 3G services could give PCOs a facelift with its owners offering features like video calling at cheap rates. “Video calling at PCOs offers a real value preposition. We, however, are not looking at it (PCOs) right now but are expecting the entrepreneurs to take a cue from our 3G networks and go for it,” he added.