iPhone in India, iPad 2 in Ukraine on May 27th
updated 11:35 am EDT, Wed May 25, 2011
Bharti, Aircel picked as Indian carriers
The iPhone 4 will finally launch in India on May 27th, says the Wall Street Journal. The phone will be available from two carriers, Aircel and Bharti Airtel. The former is offering both pre-paid and subscription options, charging 34,500 rupees ($763) for a 16GB model, and 40,900 rupees for 32GB. With a two-year subscription people should get back the cost of the phone through monthly credits.
A Bharti Airtel spokeswoman claims that the carrier will offer similar schemes and prices. The expansion is an important step for Apple, as India has some 811 million phone subscribers, making it the second-largest cellular market in the world after China. One catch is that together Bharti and Aircel have 3G in only 13 out of 22 coverage zones, reducing the usefulness of any smartphone.
May 27th will also see the iPad 2 ship to the Ukraine for the first time. People will reportedly have to buy the device through Apple Premium Resellers and retail chains, and pay a significant premium over US prices. A 16GB Wi-Fi model should cost 5,299 UAH, or about $663. A top-end 64GB 3G iPad will cost 8,899 UAH, worth a massive $1,114.
