Showing posts with label Apple iPhone in India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apple iPhone in India. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
iPhone Hobbled by High Prices in Japan, Lack of 3G in India
Apple's iPhone may be giving competitors a run for their money in North America but when it comes to three of the biggest telecom markets in Asia — Japan, India and China — the company seems to be coming up lame.
The latest sales figures suggest the Jesus phone is struggling to find new converts in Japan. Not far away in India (the second largest telecom market after China) sales of the device are also lackluster thanks to prices that are pushing seven Benjamins for the entry level 8-GB version. And Apple has yet to finalize a deal with Chinese telecom carrier, China Mobile, to bring the iPhone to the People’s Republic.
A combination of high pricing and a marketing strategy that fails to take into account the needs of local markets has left Apple selling just a few hundred thousand units in countries where millions of other phones are sold every month.
Take India, one of Asia's fastest-growing telecom markets. Between 2006 and 2007, sales of smartphones within the nation grew an estimated 31.4 percent. The data-centric convergence device segment exploded at 89 percent, while voice-centric devices shot up by 26.3 percent. As of July 2008, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India reported total wireless subscribers of about 296 million. About 9.2 million subscribers were added in July alone.
Nokia is the market leader in India but other players like Research In Motion (makers of Ur-smartphone BlackBerry), HTC and Sony Ericsson are gaining traction. But not Apple.
It isn't for lack of interest in the iPhone, says Naveen Mishra, an analyst at IDC India.
Apple's brand and the iPhone's design have captivated Indian consumers but the high cost of the device and the lack of a nationwide 3G network has kept away users from buying the phone.
"The iPhone has a large fan following," says Mishra, "but when it comes to buying the device not a lot of people want to spend that kind of money."
Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the 3G iPhone with the promise of $199 price tag at which it retails in the United States along with a two-year contract with the service provider.
But in India the device has been priced much higher at 31,000 Rupees ($673) for the 8-GB version and 36,100 Rupees ($785) for the 16-GB model.
The reason for the higher cost? Wireless customers in India flat out refuse to sign legally binding mobile phone contracts. Because they’re not obligated to stick with a service provider, handsets on the subcontinent are always full priced, never subsidized.
The iPhone's limited availability through a contract with just two mobile service operators has cramped sales, says Mishra.
Unlike the United States, India's telecom market is skewed in favor of prepaid users, who comprise at least 70 percent of total cellphone users in the country.
Most cellphone users in India buy their handsets from a retail store and activate it with the carrier of their choice; cellphones are generally sold unlocked.
The iPhone is the exception. It is currently available only on Airtel and Vodafone leaving potential iPhone buyers with limited options. India does not offer number portability and switching carriers means existing users could lose their phone number as they move to a new carrier.
India also does not have the 3G … yet. Analysts expect the first 3G networks in the country to be available mid-2009.
For the iPhone in India, sales are unlikely to pick up unless the service providers slash the price of the device, make it available through retail stores and launch their 3G network, says Mishra.
"There's going to be very limited uptake for the device unless the carriers do one or all of these things," says Mishra.
Despite weak sales, it is unlikely Apple will push for significant price cuts in the country, say analysts. "Apple throughout its family is willing to forgo large market share for profitable market share," says Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research.
Meanwhile in Japan, Apple has partnered with Softbank, Japan's third-largest mobile service provider to sell the iPhone 3G. After the initial buzz, demand for the iPhone has fallen to a third of what it was as users cringe at the high cost of ownership for the phone and the unavailability of some features, says a report in The Wall Street Journal.
As for China, despite speculation, Apple seems no closer to signing a deal with China Mobile to offer the iPhone 3G in the market.
For Apple, it may be time to take a closer look at its business in Asia. Unless the company can move swiftly to change its strategy, it may find itself locked out of the largest telecom markets of the world.
The latest sales figures suggest the Jesus phone is struggling to find new converts in Japan. Not far away in India (the second largest telecom market after China) sales of the device are also lackluster thanks to prices that are pushing seven Benjamins for the entry level 8-GB version. And Apple has yet to finalize a deal with Chinese telecom carrier, China Mobile, to bring the iPhone to the People’s Republic.
A combination of high pricing and a marketing strategy that fails to take into account the needs of local markets has left Apple selling just a few hundred thousand units in countries where millions of other phones are sold every month.
Take India, one of Asia's fastest-growing telecom markets. Between 2006 and 2007, sales of smartphones within the nation grew an estimated 31.4 percent. The data-centric convergence device segment exploded at 89 percent, while voice-centric devices shot up by 26.3 percent. As of July 2008, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India reported total wireless subscribers of about 296 million. About 9.2 million subscribers were added in July alone.
Nokia is the market leader in India but other players like Research In Motion (makers of Ur-smartphone BlackBerry), HTC and Sony Ericsson are gaining traction. But not Apple.
It isn't for lack of interest in the iPhone, says Naveen Mishra, an analyst at IDC India.
Apple's brand and the iPhone's design have captivated Indian consumers but the high cost of the device and the lack of a nationwide 3G network has kept away users from buying the phone.
"The iPhone has a large fan following," says Mishra, "but when it comes to buying the device not a lot of people want to spend that kind of money."
Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the 3G iPhone with the promise of $199 price tag at which it retails in the United States along with a two-year contract with the service provider.
But in India the device has been priced much higher at 31,000 Rupees ($673) for the 8-GB version and 36,100 Rupees ($785) for the 16-GB model.
The reason for the higher cost? Wireless customers in India flat out refuse to sign legally binding mobile phone contracts. Because they’re not obligated to stick with a service provider, handsets on the subcontinent are always full priced, never subsidized.
The iPhone's limited availability through a contract with just two mobile service operators has cramped sales, says Mishra.
Unlike the United States, India's telecom market is skewed in favor of prepaid users, who comprise at least 70 percent of total cellphone users in the country.
Most cellphone users in India buy their handsets from a retail store and activate it with the carrier of their choice; cellphones are generally sold unlocked.
The iPhone is the exception. It is currently available only on Airtel and Vodafone leaving potential iPhone buyers with limited options. India does not offer number portability and switching carriers means existing users could lose their phone number as they move to a new carrier.
India also does not have the 3G … yet. Analysts expect the first 3G networks in the country to be available mid-2009.
For the iPhone in India, sales are unlikely to pick up unless the service providers slash the price of the device, make it available through retail stores and launch their 3G network, says Mishra.
"There's going to be very limited uptake for the device unless the carriers do one or all of these things," says Mishra.
Despite weak sales, it is unlikely Apple will push for significant price cuts in the country, say analysts. "Apple throughout its family is willing to forgo large market share for profitable market share," says Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research.
Meanwhile in Japan, Apple has partnered with Softbank, Japan's third-largest mobile service provider to sell the iPhone 3G. After the initial buzz, demand for the iPhone has fallen to a third of what it was as users cringe at the high cost of ownership for the phone and the unavailability of some features, says a report in The Wall Street Journal.
As for China, despite speculation, Apple seems no closer to signing a deal with China Mobile to offer the iPhone 3G in the market.
For Apple, it may be time to take a closer look at its business in Asia. Unless the company can move swiftly to change its strategy, it may find itself locked out of the largest telecom markets of the world.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Bharti Airtel, Aircel To Launch iPhone 4 In India Soon
Two telecommunication service providers said that they will launch Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iPhone 4 smartphones in India in coming months as mobile telecom companies start rolling out third-generation services.
Bharti Airtel Ltd. and Aircel Ltd. separately announced their plans to launch the phone, but both declined to say when would they launch the most-recent iPhone version and at what price.
Apple didn't offer any immediate comment.
Sales of smartphones like iPhone, which is popular for its high-speed Internet and mobile software capabilities, are expected to get a boost in India as telecom companies are rolling out 3G services that offer high-speed data transfer capabilities.
With more than 790 million subscribers, India is the second-largest market after China for telecom services. It is also the fastest-growing market.
India's mobile handsets market is expected to grow 25% to 210 million units in 2011, according to market research firm CyberMedia Research, which expects smartphones to account for 5.7% of the total handset sales in 2011 compared with 3.6% last year.
Bharti, which already sells earlier models of iPhone, has so far added 2 million users to its 3G mobile telephone network, which it launched in January.
The company, India's largest mobile phone operator by subscribers, has bandwidth to offer 3G services in 13 of the country's 22 telecom service areas.
Aircel, which has more than 50 million subscribers on its second-generation network, started providing 3G services in February. It also has bandwidth to offer 3G telecom services in 13 areas.
Malaysia's Maxis Communications Bhd. holds a 74% stake in Aircel, while India's Apollo Hospitals group owns the rest.
Apple's iPhone 4 was first released in the U.S. and four other countries in June last year, with a starting price of $199.
Last June, Vodafone Essar Ltd., the Indian unit of the U.K.'s Vodafone Group PLC, had said would launch iPhone 4 in India, but didn't say by when.
Bharti Airtel Ltd. and Aircel Ltd. separately announced their plans to launch the phone, but both declined to say when would they launch the most-recent iPhone version and at what price.
Apple didn't offer any immediate comment.
Sales of smartphones like iPhone, which is popular for its high-speed Internet and mobile software capabilities, are expected to get a boost in India as telecom companies are rolling out 3G services that offer high-speed data transfer capabilities.
With more than 790 million subscribers, India is the second-largest market after China for telecom services. It is also the fastest-growing market.
India's mobile handsets market is expected to grow 25% to 210 million units in 2011, according to market research firm CyberMedia Research, which expects smartphones to account for 5.7% of the total handset sales in 2011 compared with 3.6% last year.
Bharti, which already sells earlier models of iPhone, has so far added 2 million users to its 3G mobile telephone network, which it launched in January.
The company, India's largest mobile phone operator by subscribers, has bandwidth to offer 3G services in 13 of the country's 22 telecom service areas.
Aircel, which has more than 50 million subscribers on its second-generation network, started providing 3G services in February. It also has bandwidth to offer 3G telecom services in 13 areas.
Malaysia's Maxis Communications Bhd. holds a 74% stake in Aircel, while India's Apollo Hospitals group owns the rest.
Apple's iPhone 4 was first released in the U.S. and four other countries in June last year, with a starting price of $199.
Last June, Vodafone Essar Ltd., the Indian unit of the U.K.'s Vodafone Group PLC, had said would launch iPhone 4 in India, but didn't say by when.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Apple’s iPhone 4 launched in India
Apple released its iPhone 4 in India on 27th May. Two major Indian telecom firms launched the iPhone 4 by means of a pricing plan that allows consumers to pick up the charge of the smart phone in monthly credits in two-year time. Indian cellular phone group Aircel charges 34,500 rupees ($764) for the iPhone 4 with a capacity of 16 GB and 32 GB version costs 40,900 rupees. Whereas, the telecom giant Bharti Airtel that previously sells previous models of the iPhone, have a comparable plan for the iPhone 4, that boast a superior quality screen and better battery life than former versions.
Though many companies have tried to redraft the feature and application of the iPhone 4, Airtel CEO (West Bengal and Orissa) PD Sharma had claimed, "iPhone 4 will stand out for its original applications and cater to the middle segment as well, with attractive pricing which will not create a pinch both in the long and short term".
With the news making reverberations in the contours of the market, large number of tech savvy groups were seen gazing at the seamless beauty of iPhone 4, despite of its high end prices for Rs 34,500 for the 16GB model and Rs 40,900 for the 32GB model.
In order to take benefit from the hoopla surrounding iPhone 4, Airtel and Aircel are offering lucrative schemes to the customers. Confirming the strategic approach adopted by telecom companies in India to beat the neck to neck competition, P. D. Sharma explained the reverse subsidy schemes, in which cost of the phone can be recovered by customer through discounts in mobile bills over a period of two years, which has already impacted Chinese market.
The Apple iPhone 4 is the fourth model of Apple's iPhone and the direct successor of the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 4 is the first iPhone model actually differs from the original iPhone in 2007, both in features and design. The iPhone 4 with a thickness of only 9.3 mm thinner than any previous iPhone models and is made of steel and glass and the unit is available in black and is probably later in white. One of the main innovations concerned the new IOS-4 operating system. IOS-4 also offers a file manager which you can divide applications into folders, which benefit statement. In addition, improved e-mail functions and support for Apple's new iAd mobile advertising platform.
iPhone 4 comes with the large 3.5-inch touchscreen display. For this display is used the Retina technology, which is four times more pixels per square inch can be placed. This technique has the multi-touch screen of the iPhone 4 a resolution of up to 960 x 640 pixels.
The iPhone 4 has a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and autofocus and the ability to capture video in HD quality (720p) to be included. Thanks to the integrated 3-axis gyroscope (which moves very precisely observed) is Wll-like motion sensing gaming possible. In combination with the traditional motion sensor offers 3-axis gyroscope a 6-axis motion sensing capability, which means your games can drive the device moving from top to bottom, left to right, front to back and shaking .
The iPhone4 features the same processor as the Apple iPad A4 and has a standby time of about 300 hours. By supporting multitasking just easier and faster between applications, what the battery life benefits. The iPhone 4 can be used as an e-reader app using the new iBooks, that gives you access to the Apple iBookstore. iBook users can also directly read PDF files or save iBooks. Naturally, the iPhone 4 excellent connectivity with support for WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G/HSDPA, GPS and push e-mail to quickly to use the internet or navigate. Also find a comprehensive media player again. The new iMovie app (you have to buy separately) you can edit videos on your device and dynamically maintained transitions and add music to the movies. FM radio is still missing and always, like the iPad, the device is equipped with a less regular MicroSim card slot. 4 The Apple iPhone is available with 16GB or 32GB storage memory.
The dimensions of the phone are 11.50 x 5.90 x 0.90 inches. Speaking time (under ideal conditions) 420 minutes. The standby time is 300 hours under these conditions. The Apple iPhone is available in four colors white and black.
The Apple iPhone 4 supports GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz networks. The iPhone 4 can fast mobile internet with UMTS and HSDPA support. The speed of HSDPA will mean the difference between home and move on. The Apple iPhone 4 can include text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages sent and received. Thanks to the support email you can simply read your own emails. Vibrating alert and polyphonic and MP3 ringtones are of course standard equipment.
The Apple iPhone 4 has 16 GB of internal memory (Flash). You can transfer data via USB to your PC. The iPhone 4 also has Bluetooth (for wireless communication with other Bluetooth devices such as headsets) and WiFi (for wireless communication with home or small office network).
Though many companies have tried to redraft the feature and application of the iPhone 4, Airtel CEO (West Bengal and Orissa) PD Sharma had claimed, "iPhone 4 will stand out for its original applications and cater to the middle segment as well, with attractive pricing which will not create a pinch both in the long and short term".
With the news making reverberations in the contours of the market, large number of tech savvy groups were seen gazing at the seamless beauty of iPhone 4, despite of its high end prices for Rs 34,500 for the 16GB model and Rs 40,900 for the 32GB model.
In order to take benefit from the hoopla surrounding iPhone 4, Airtel and Aircel are offering lucrative schemes to the customers. Confirming the strategic approach adopted by telecom companies in India to beat the neck to neck competition, P. D. Sharma explained the reverse subsidy schemes, in which cost of the phone can be recovered by customer through discounts in mobile bills over a period of two years, which has already impacted Chinese market.
The Apple iPhone 4 is the fourth model of Apple's iPhone and the direct successor of the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 4 is the first iPhone model actually differs from the original iPhone in 2007, both in features and design. The iPhone 4 with a thickness of only 9.3 mm thinner than any previous iPhone models and is made of steel and glass and the unit is available in black and is probably later in white. One of the main innovations concerned the new IOS-4 operating system. IOS-4 also offers a file manager which you can divide applications into folders, which benefit statement. In addition, improved e-mail functions and support for Apple's new iAd mobile advertising platform.
iPhone 4 comes with the large 3.5-inch touchscreen display. For this display is used the Retina technology, which is four times more pixels per square inch can be placed. This technique has the multi-touch screen of the iPhone 4 a resolution of up to 960 x 640 pixels.
The iPhone 4 has a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and autofocus and the ability to capture video in HD quality (720p) to be included. Thanks to the integrated 3-axis gyroscope (which moves very precisely observed) is Wll-like motion sensing gaming possible. In combination with the traditional motion sensor offers 3-axis gyroscope a 6-axis motion sensing capability, which means your games can drive the device moving from top to bottom, left to right, front to back and shaking .
The iPhone4 features the same processor as the Apple iPad A4 and has a standby time of about 300 hours. By supporting multitasking just easier and faster between applications, what the battery life benefits. The iPhone 4 can be used as an e-reader app using the new iBooks, that gives you access to the Apple iBookstore. iBook users can also directly read PDF files or save iBooks. Naturally, the iPhone 4 excellent connectivity with support for WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G/HSDPA, GPS and push e-mail to quickly to use the internet or navigate. Also find a comprehensive media player again. The new iMovie app (you have to buy separately) you can edit videos on your device and dynamically maintained transitions and add music to the movies. FM radio is still missing and always, like the iPad, the device is equipped with a less regular MicroSim card slot. 4 The Apple iPhone is available with 16GB or 32GB storage memory.
The dimensions of the phone are 11.50 x 5.90 x 0.90 inches. Speaking time (under ideal conditions) 420 minutes. The standby time is 300 hours under these conditions. The Apple iPhone is available in four colors white and black.
The Apple iPhone 4 supports GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz networks. The iPhone 4 can fast mobile internet with UMTS and HSDPA support. The speed of HSDPA will mean the difference between home and move on. The Apple iPhone 4 can include text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages sent and received. Thanks to the support email you can simply read your own emails. Vibrating alert and polyphonic and MP3 ringtones are of course standard equipment.
The Apple iPhone 4 has 16 GB of internal memory (Flash). You can transfer data via USB to your PC. The iPhone 4 also has Bluetooth (for wireless communication with other Bluetooth devices such as headsets) and WiFi (for wireless communication with home or small office network).
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