Apple iPhone is todays equivalent example of Sony Walkman of yesterday. Theres no path breaking features that it offers, but apparantly, its PDA and smartphone capabilities(alongwith very good marketting) can help Apple to reach a wide customer base and also it will give comman non technical consumers the chance to learn the Apple way of design and operation. As it is many people just drool over the lean mean Mac, its time to have one in pocket and let the world drool. I would personally take it as a PDA device with the capacities of the Mac OS. Now-a-days many PDA have a crossover as a mobile device and a PDA or a portable handheld. It would have been much better had Mr Jobs introduced it as a iPod+PDA and not a smartphone+PDA..

As far as Indian market is concerned, I think that people will literally do anything to get this fabulous PDA. Reasons of it not used as a smartphone are

1. India dosent have an EDGE capable network as of 11 jan 07.(If theres any, please market yourself more guys. I think former BPL had this, but not clear about it) GPRS is present, but the operators charge it like hell, and a its an example of a paradox that BSNL broadband is much cheaper and affordable then the GPRS provided by blokes like Airtel, Hutch, !dea and the CDMA players like Reliance and Tata Indicom.

2. 3G is absent. My motorazr can take a 2.5G and 3G, but as of now, I dont think that any provider has this facility.

3. Nokia already dominates the hi-end market in India, but it never markets its any smartphone as a PDA. Nor does it offer any features as compared to the iPhone, although their N-series has got some serious multimedia features. Theres pretty tough competition for survival.

The asian market is full of varied diversities. Japan has got its own NTT DoCoMo, India has got WLL, CDMA, GSM, and all are incompaitable with each other. I hope that by the time iPhone reaches Asian market, the final picture will become much clear, and hopefully, the Apple iPhone will give Apple and consumers a great functionality.

Update on June 25, 2008.

Apple iPhone is to be launched in India by Vodafone. To book your iPhone in India, sms IPHONE to 56789. The price of iPhone is expected to be around 25000 + taxes. So get your savings out for this beauty..

Update on July 11, 2008.

Please check out this link which shows an Apple iPhone in India. According to it, IPhone will be officially available in September 2008.

Update on July 22, 2008.

RIM Blackberry Bold 9000 is the deemed Apple iPhone killer, this link says so..

Update on August 22, 2008

Rejoice, the Apple iPhone to cost Rs 31000/- for 8 GB model and Rs 36000/- for the 16 CG model. Add to it the absence of 3G in India. Enjoy..