Apple India brings iPad; starting price Rs 27,990

NEW DELHI: The Apple iPad is finally here! Starting Friday, you can visit the nearest Apple retailer (or iStore) and pick up the tablet you've always wanted. The starting price of Rs 27,990 will most likely make Apple aficionados rub their hands in delight. The base version of the iPad (16 GB, wi-fi only) has been selling at Rs 33,000 in the grey market and on online stores.

iPad has earned the title of the fastest selling gadget ever. In less than a year of its launch, it has sold nearly 15 million units, earning close to $10 billion in revenue. The iPad launch was announced in the US exactly a year ago (January 27, 2010), though it only went on sale in April 2011. Since then, the iPad has single-handedly reinvented the tablet market.

Though not through Apple, iPad has been on sale in India since August 2010, mostly through the grey market. Several e-commerce websites also started selling the device subsequently. Analysts peg the total number of iPads in India currently at about 40,000 units. This includes sales through the grey market, online sales or those who simply purchased the device abroad.

Not only is the India launch of the iPad delayed (it was launched in Hong Kong & Singapore as far back as July 2010) but the iPad 2, due out in a couple of months, is rumored to have dual cameras, a higher resolution 'retina' display and a faster processor. Add that to the increasing competition from other tablet makers like Samsung, Motorola and BlackBerry and your choice becomes confusing- wait for iPad 2 or pick up a non-Apple device that packs in more features.

Like elsewhere in the world, an entire ecosystem is getting created around the iPad. Accessories for Apple products is a flourishing industry and various accessories for the iPad have been available for the past few months at electronics stores and e-commerce sites.

BSNL has announced 3G plans specifically for the iPad while Airtel, Vodafone and Idea have been selling micro SIM cards (for 3G versions) for some time.

In all, there are six versions of the iPad available; capacities of 16, 32 or 64GB in a choice of Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + 3G. The 16GB Wi-Fi only version will be priced at Rs 27,990 while the top of the line 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G version will be priced at Rs 44,990.

American tablet on Indian shores

You no longer need to visit the grey market to buy the Apple iPad. The iconic tablet computer is finally available in India, even though it’s been over 9 months since its US launch.

When Apple launched the iPad in the US on April 3, 2010, hardcore fans and enthusiasts thronged the company’s retail stores, with hundreds of people standing in lines. Jenna Wortham from NY Times reported that, “There are about 300 people in line at the store, but the lines are moving fairly quickly.” 300,000 iPads were sold that day by midnight. 28 days later, Apple went on to sell 1 million iPads and the number increased to 3 million by June 22.

What’s most surprising about the Indian launch of the iPad is the pricing. The entry-level 16GB Wi-Fi version costs only R 27,900 while the top-end 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G variant will set you back by R 44,900. Just to compare pricing, the former costs R 23,000 ($499) in the US and the latter, R 38,000 ($829). The average difference works out to hardly R 5,000.

Not one to miss out, mobile service provider BSNL has already launched several 3G data plans for the iPad. Prepaid plans start at R 100 per day with unlimited data usage. Both prepaid and postpaid plans offer unlimited access for R 999 per month. Other carriers are expected to come out with iPad specific plans soon. Even so, the iPad, just like the (yet to be launched) iPhone 4 should even work with existing 2G plans from Vodafone, Airtel and other Indian carriers. Just remember that it needs a micro-SIM; regular mini-SIM cards won’t fit in the slot.

Other competitors in the Indian market include the 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab that costs R 38,000 and the 5-inch Dell Streak that’s available for R 34,999. Both of these devices run Google’s Android 2.2 operating system and sport 3G and Wi-Fi.

For the uninitiated, the Apple iPad has a 9.7-inch LCD touchscreen that’s based on IPS (in-plane switching) technology. IPS LCD screens have better colour depth and viewing angles compared to conventional displays. The iPad runs the same operating system as the iPod Touch and iPhone 4 – IOS. System internals too are the same as those in the iPhone 4 – a 1GHz processor, 16/32/64 GB memory configurations, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and (optionally) 3G connectivity, a digital compass and GPS. The 9.7-inch screen packs in 1024x768 pixels and sports a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. Unlike Samsung and Dell’s tablets, the iPad doesn’t come with a camera.

Even though the iPad has stormed the markets worldwide, many Indians feels as if Apple is clearing old stock to make way for the launch of the next version of the iPad, that amongst other things will include a front and rear camera and a high-resolution Retina Display. “A little too late, a little too less. Let the iPad 2 come out!” mentions a user on Techenclave.com. “Look at the brighter side. We get official warranty for the imported iPads which otherwise wouldn't have been possible,” sums up another member.

Apple iPad to land India on January 28

Surprise, surprise… Apple has done it again. While the rest of the world is busy waiting for the official iPad 2 specs and launch date, the Cupertino giant is planning on releasing its predecessor in the Indian market a few days from now on January 28.

According to a Telegraph Kolkata report, the 9.7-inch tablet will be making it to our shores in its full glory, with all its versions available. The 3G-enabled versions will cost between Rs. 33,000 to Rs. 44,000 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions. The Wi-fi versions will cost a more reasonable Rs. 26,000 to Rs. 37,000 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions.

Apple has finally decided to launch iPad officially in India. The company is all set to make the product available in India from January 28. The iPad will only be sold by Apple's premium retailers.

The device will be launched in two versions, the Wi-Fi-only version and the 3G+Wi-Fi version. Both will come in three capacities - 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. The 16 GB Wi-Fi version will cost 26,000. On the other hand, the 64GB Wi-Fi version will cost 37,000.

The 3G+Wi-Fi version will be priced at 33,000 for the 16 GB model. The 64 GB model will cost 44,000. The 32 GB 3G iPad will also be available, however, its price isn't known yet.

The trend of dumping predecessors in India seems to be the topic for the day. Motorola announced the Indian launch of their XT800 Glam earlier today, even though China has already gotten its hands on an upgraded XT800+. NowApple has joined in on the fray by releasing the iPad, even though an official announcement is expected in the next couple of weeks.

You’ve got to hand it to them though. If the release does happen as predicted, a lot of people will be in two minds – whether to pick up the readily available version, or wait for one that has had no official announcement yet, leave alone the fact that it might not make it here for another year. It’s an underhanded move, but it’s a smart one.

Either way, you don’t need to plan overseas trips just to get your hands on this tablet, or trawl through online retailers for some good deals. You can just walk into your nearest Apple store in a couple of days to pick it up – and that certainly isn’t a bad thing.