Airtel users to enjoy iPhone soon

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

New Delhi, May 12: India's largest mobile operator Bharti Airtel on Monday announced a tie-up with US-based Apple to bring the popular GSM-based iPhone in the country. "Bharti Airtel has signed a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to India later this year," the telecom company said in a statement. Sources, however, said that Airtel may start offering iPhones around Diwali festival to its over 65 million GSM-based subscribers.

Airtel's announcement comes on the heels of world's largest mobile phone operator Vodafone announcing last week to distribute iPhones worldwide including India. Asked about the prices, Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Airtel declined to give any details

about the agreement, the company entered into with Apple. But in the grey market the devices are available in the range of $500- $600 (about Rs 25,000), sources said, adding that these handsets procured from the grey market need to be unlocked.

Apart from India, Apple has signed deals with three mobile phone networks in the Asia-Pacific region and the firms will offer the iPhone in their respective markets.

While, the company has tied up with SingTel to sell gadgets in Singapore, it will be present in Philippines through Globe Telecom and in Australia through a tie up with Optus. The iPhone was launched in the US and Europe last year. iPhone allows users to make calls by simply tapping a name or number in the address book. It also helps to select and listen to voice-mail messages in whatever order the consumer wants.