The iPhone prices that we Indians envy are the carrier subsidised prices for locked devices, the prices of the unlocked phones are much higher and closer to the prices that Indian customers have to pay.
A day after the unveiling of the iPhone 5, Apple's website has revealed the prices for the unlocked versions of the phone. The 16GB model is priced at $649, 32GB for $749 and $64GB for $849.
A rough currency conversion to Indian rupees puts them in the range of Rs 35,500 to Rs 46,500. But the prices in India are expected to be higher.
The iPhone 5 may hit Indian stores in the third batch of iPhone 5 releases. On September 21 the iPhone 5 will debut in nine countries: US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore followed by an additional 22 countries a week later on September 28: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Apple at the iPhone 5 launch event on September 12 announced that the iPhone 5 will be available in a total of 100 countries with 240 carriers by December this year.
The iPhone 4S was unveiled on October 4, 2011 and Airtel and Aircel began selling the phone in India from November 25, 2011.
