Patience is a virtue.
I’ve been told that the iPhone 3G will shortly be available in Mauritius for purchase. To be more precise, the devices are coming to Mauritius this month and are expected to be sold as from November.
Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about the price but I’ll hazard a guess of around Rs. 20,000 for the 8Gb model and Rs. 23,000 for the 16Gb model in line with the quoted price in the Hong-Kong Apple Store. I know this is steep but you need to bear in mind two important things:
Firstly, the iPhone is not only a cellphone despite its name. It is a Wifi-enabled computer (with a powerful browser and enterprise-grade email client) and a video iPod and a GPS receiver and a game console and a digital camera which can also be used to make 3G phone calls. Additionally, hundred of free and commercial applications can be downloaded from the Apple iPhone AppStore (direct link to the AppStore for iTunes users) greatly increasing the capabilities of the iPhone.
Secondly, the price (if confirmed of course) compares favorably with what Americans pay. The 8Gb and 16Gb models of the iPhone 3G cost $199 (about Rs. 6000) and $299 (about Rs. 8500) there. But, and this is a massive but, you are forced to subscribe to a voice plan (to make calls), unlimited data plan (to access the web) and (optionally) a SMS plan (to send SMS) at around $75 (about Rs. 2000) per month for two years. For the 16Gb model, this amounts to Rs. 8500 + 24 x Rs. 2000 = Rs. 56,500 (mind you, for unlimited data i.e. browsing, emailing, chatting and Facebooking which does not really exist here.)
Of course, here we’ll have to pay for pre-paid voice and SMS credits as well as 3G data. For the sake of argument, let’s say we accept to pay Rs. 56,500 - Rs. 23,000 = Rs. 33,500 for 2 years. This equates to, say, downloading 2Mb of data (Rs. 0.01 per Kb i.e Rs. 20), sending 10 SMS (Rs. 6) and making 15 minutes of voice call everyday for two years which I find excessive.
Personally, I don’t intend to use my future iPhone in this fashion. Remember, it has a Wifi antenna and, as I am nearly always near an access point, I will use Wifi when browsing and checking my emails. What I am implying is that I don’t think I’ll have to buy more credits to be able to use my future iPhone compared to what I’m paying now with my trusty Nokia 6288.
So, in a sense, we’re getting a better deal than Americans as we have the choice of not using (and not paying for) the data plan if we don’t want to. Heck, we can even choose not to use 3G!
The image above
I already have an iPhone 3G… except that it is just a software simulator. In fact, today I installed the Apple iPhone Software Development Kit on my MacBook (you need a Mac…) which, in addition to all the tools needed to build iPhone applications, features this iPhone simulator. It works, it’s nice-looking and it gives me the opportunity of making nice screenshots.
What can I ask more?
I know!
I need to convince my Minister of Finance (aka my dear Christina) to allow me to ask Father Xmas a black 16Gb Apple iPhone 3G in December 
Alleluia.
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October 2nd, 2008 at 16:42
Well i think the price is exaggerating compared to the USA and Avinash for those who don’t own a mac book and want to simulate the iphone on their PC can use the following application, more info on the link below
http://aviassin.wikidot.com/iphonedriftOctober 2nd, 2008 at 16:43
The big question is… will it be locked? If it’s locked, then the price “may” be little more affordable & it will more likely be bundled with data contracts.
If it’s unlocked, well it would be 20k+.
& as til now, there’s no software unlock!
October 2nd, 2008 at 21:30
I have been saving for it .. so its a good news
unfortunately, i wanted to keep my emtel fone num.but i guess i’ll have to do without :p the iphone is too tempting.
October 3rd, 2008 at 13:48
Well, that’s weird… does this mean that it will be unlocked? As selling an iPhone 8GB for RS20,000 must be fuly unlocked :S
But I’ll tell you, I would prefer to buy an iPhone at RS5000-Rs10,000 with 2 year contract than pay RS20,000 in one go.
October 3rd, 2008 at 14:17
Avinash,
There’s another way to view websites as they were meant to be viewed on an iPhone, just install Safari, enable the Developer Menu, then click Develop >> User Agent >> Mobile Safari 1.1.3 - iPhone
there are many other options like iPod Touch, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera
October 3rd, 2008 at 22:30
Thanks for that. When I tested it, only the Google main page was significantly different (i.e. narrower and simpler), the other web pages I accessed were pretty much the same.
October 3rd, 2008 at 22:32
To Jo:
What kind of two year contract?
October 4th, 2008 at 20:33
@Sailesh
You can do that with Firefox’s User Agent Switcher as well:
Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/1A543a Safari/419.3
Check out Google Reader’s iPhone interface - it’s great!
http://www.google.com/reader/i/
October 5th, 2008 at 23:38
hi guys
I am a fan of the iphone 3g… I am waiting impatiently for the iphone to come here in mauritius… So, Avinash, where do u got all these informations about iphone comming this month but it will be sold in november???? Is that the real prices you mentioned above???
cheers
jpf
October 6th, 2008 at 00:18
I can’t reveal my source of information (sounds like in a movie
)
As for the prices, I just used the Hong-Kong prices as the situation is similar to our own there. If you look closely, you’ll read ‘iPhone 3G purchased at the Apple Online Store can be activated with any wireless carrier. Simply insert the SIM from your current phone into iPhone 3G and connect to iTunes 8 to complete activation.’ meaning that the iPhone 3G being sold there is unblocked i.e. would work equally well with Emtel or Orange here.
To reiterate, I won’t be surprised seeing an unblocked iPhone 3G 16Gb being sold here in November around Rs. 25,000.
Expensive I know. But so damn desirable
October 6th, 2008 at 09:35
so do we get wireless internet from the carrier or from our own local modem? ie home?
October 6th, 2008 at 09:49
sounds like a small laptop :D:D:D:D
my only fear is that [after i tried yan's ipod touch] my fingers seems to big to type on that onscreen keypad. :p i suppose i can use a matchstick. besides, wouldn’t want kfc oil on the screen :p
October 6th, 2008 at 12:24
Hi dude from the other post (I wonder why people don’t use their real names…),
Wireless Internet (through Wifi) is from your own access point of course. We’re not talking of HSPDA here. And this is great as the cost is nothing comparable.
October 6th, 2008 at 13:16
hum, but why won’t we have our price subsidized? Why no contract? As far as I know, orange sell iPhones in France with contract
October 6th, 2008 at 13:23
For sure, the iphone 3g is a great phone.
Whatever the price is… i have to buy one
Let us know when u have more information please…
Thanks
October 6th, 2008 at 14:32
Because there is no such thing as an unlimited data plan here which is, IMHO, the only valid reason to pay a flat fee of Rs. 2000 per month for a bloody phone.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:54
Because i don’t want everyone to own one :p
October 7th, 2008 at 18:40
An ‘unlimited’ data plan is overrated. I own the iphone and while I enjoy using it, I cannot conceive using more than a gigabyte if I have a wireless network and home and if I do not tether.
The beauty of the iphone really comes in when there’s a need for information available on the web while about town. The device however is a bit underpowered in my opinion and the battery life a bit short. But it looks so good!
October 7th, 2008 at 19:17
Funnily, I think that there are two sorts of persons who dream of an iPhone 3G:
(1) The technology freaks who want to finally have a device which is a mix of a computer, an iPod, a game console, a GPS receiver, a digital camera and cellphone so that they don’t have to carry six devices when they have to go out.
(2) The fashion victims (aka seki content glacé) who want to impress their acquaintances and who won’t use the iPhone to the full.
In both cases, you better be rich as the iPhone will be an expensive investment IMHO.
Personally, I am 80% (1) and 20% (2).
What about you?
October 7th, 2008 at 22:13
200 % (1) 50 % (2) LOL :D:D
October 8th, 2008 at 09:04
Something’s funny about the banner “Twice as fast Half the price”
Actually it should be for us Mauritians “The same speed Twice the price”
Well, if the iPhone is going to be Rs20,000 + then I assume it will be like in Hong Kong unlocked, but the question is, will it be unlocked only for local operator or internationally?
October 8th, 2008 at 17:34
60% (1) [its even more fun to pimp your iphone when you have tweaked it and customized it soo much that the type 2s will be in awe and say "wow"]
40% (2): heh am currently in my age group to “glacE”
:p there’s no need to be rich to own an iphone, if you want something, just save for it :p, some months of “kass gato” is enough :p, only some patience is needed…
October 8th, 2008 at 20:10
@avinash
LOL
(1) - 100% - I’d take an N95 in that case… coz it has a much better camera.
(2) - 20% - Come on, what’s the point of having gizmos if you can’t brag about it!
October 9th, 2008 at 02:48
WHENCE my interest in the new mobile devices and services is aroused again and I find out that Vodafone caps the COST of a customer’s usage of 3G at 1.00 GBP per day without limiting the download. It is either that or 5.00 GBP per month for unlimited 3G usage. I think it is time to get an iPhone.
Eddy.
October 10th, 2008 at 21:16
Well I am already using a SE P990i, with and the technologies like in the Iphone except 2 things, accelerometer and mac OS. but anything else I can do with my and even write symbian Applications for my phone.
However I will still bye one to feel the experience personally, After all it has the most powerfull OS inside.
Well currently I have a 20inch IMac, and already reviewing the Iphone SDK and API to write softwares for my Iphone ;).
Apple is the best.
October 13th, 2008 at 21:58
(I might be wrong)
IMO, nowadays to buy a phone is really useless in a way that in countries such as Australia people use mobile phone as a bonus to the service they are using. Even if you are paying the phone, you don’t seem to be paying for the it.
for example this is a link to optus iphone plan ” http://personal.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Template_wRHS&FP=/personal/mobile/iphone3G/yesiphonecapplans&site=personal ”
I’m not going to convert the price of the phone, but instead give an idea about the cost of living in australia.
Just a basic wages for a 16 years old kid working part-time at KFC/Mc Donalds is $14 AUS per hour. Someone who get an average wages of $25 /hr can have a fair life on his own (all included - accomodation/food etc..)
another question would be why buying a phone with lots of features if you are not going to use them or most of the services are not yet implemented in the country.
So now think about, is it worth to buy a phone for Rs 20,000 ??? just to call someone, take a few pictures and connect to your Access point at home just to surf internet.
Don’t get me wrong, i’m not against the iphone, but i’m just thinking that Mauritius is not ready yet for iphone. It will just be a fancy toy where some people will be saving their “casse gato” (like selven said before) for several MONTHS!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 00:02
@lildevil13: What can I say? We are led by example. Our PM thinks that an Aston Martin is fit for our 90 km/h motorways.
Eddy.
October 15th, 2008 at 08:53
@lildevil13
for the sake of owning one
for the sake of bragging about it
for the sake of having something that can be tweaked
for the sake of pimping it after tweaking it to how i want
for the sake of writing my own app on a phone [all these years i've only got an old nokia 3510]
for the sake of reading some pdfs in the bus [i have a 1hr30mins bus ride to home]
for the sake of playing some games
and definitely dreaming of how much apps i can install in that which could just make things nicer :p
for the sake of understanding it how it runs on the inside :p
after soo much reasons i wonder why i shouldn’t be buying one :p
ps. am not buying an iphone for the supposedly services that can come with it, but for the computing power such a small device can offer me…on top of that it is sexy :p
October 16th, 2008 at 17:24
Hi guys
I’ve heard that the iphone 3g will be available in december at the mauritius telecom showroom… not in november…
I phoned 8900 today and a charming lady told me that… She didn’t know the price and whether it will be on contract or not.
So I guess we will have to wait another month guys…
October 16th, 2008 at 22:02
when will the iphone 3g be on sale
October 17th, 2008 at 10:17
beware of charming ladies on the fone…. because they tend to be creatures who knows nothing more than just use a fone and convince you to buy :p without knowing what to make you buy. hahahahahaha
Hmm read a few comments above, am pretty sure there in lies the answer to your question :p dude you must be blind!
+$3|v3n
October 17th, 2008 at 19:27
Man! That’s tiresome… Before, it was Septembre, then novembre, and no December?!?! (o_O!!!!) WHAT THE HECK!!! Orange also removed the iPhone image on its site -.-
October 18th, 2008 at 18:36
the iphone 3g is in Mauritius at Future shop and zed phone shop, rose hill
And its fully unlocked from factory
The price is Rs 38000 (inc vat) for the 16gb black version and made me run away.
October 18th, 2008 at 20:00
:p something new will by then already come out :p
October 19th, 2008 at 00:35
Ha! It’s not as if Google will launch a mobile phone… Oh, wait…
Eddy.
October 19th, 2008 at 14:12
@ armand, its not the iPhone 3g that they are selling at Future shop.. Its the old one… Dude, only silly people would buy old iPhones at Rs38000… I’ve saw a shop in rose hill also selling old iPhones at Rs40,000 it made me goes like “ROFL” “LMAO”
October 20th, 2008 at 06:38
its the 16gb black version, also take a close look at it
October 23rd, 2008 at 09:40
it will be better to buy it on ebay my friends.. I’ve buy many items on ebay and if it is very secure.
October 23rd, 2008 at 16:44
And then get a scratched material :p
October 23rd, 2008 at 18:30
@zefantterrible, what about unlocking? is it available… for what price on ebay?
October 29th, 2008 at 14:28
For all those craving for the Iphone 3G, do you know that the Iphone does not have
Bluetooth A2DP, so no wireless music, no Video recording (can only take 2MP photos) and worst of all especially for a phone with 3G in its name cannot do 3G video call.
October 29th, 2008 at 22:55
Pfffffff
We all know the iphone specifications man…
I personally don’t care if there’s no video recording, bluetooth a2dp, etc… etc…
I love that phone and i will certainly buy it very soon
October 30th, 2008 at 11:34
yeah we already know what the iPhone has… we don’t need to share things with other people via bluetooth… Heck! we have wifi capabilities… and soon podcasts download over wifi without using iTunes!!… btw 1 Novembre is this saturday, no news from Orange still!! about this blog, it said that the iPhone 3g should have arrived this month(October)… Everyday I keep watching the http://www.orange.mu and still the same… no news about the iPhone 3G
October 30th, 2008 at 11:38
btw check this , it makes me laugh but also feel sad about this person
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1769481&tstart=60
(What the heck?!?! last days of December?!?!?!?!)
October 30th, 2008 at 21:03
Meanwhile, the emulator on the Mac remains very appealing.
November 2nd, 2008 at 16:26
@Jo.. Hello, the price of the iphone 3G unlock from ebay.co.uk varies from Rs 15000 to Rs 30000 including the shipping and you can get a locked one also and to unlock it it is so simple.. you can either do the hardware one or software one.. The hardware one is using a small device which is like a sim card and place it on the sim card.. it makes the iphone think that it is a valid sim card.. The software one is very simple.. Plug the iphone and click unlock on the software.. (however you must not let the iphone auto update from itunes, but install the firmware manually.. It can be easily found on the net for free).. Personally, I think that I will buy one from ebay before the end of November.
November 2nd, 2008 at 21:35
@ Zenfantterrible, hmm as far as I know, there is no software unlock for the iPhone 3G…
btw I’ve heard its at the end of Novembre that the iPhone 3g will be released… Avinash if you could comfirm wthis with your source, it will be great
November 4th, 2008 at 20:21
hey, i’m from belgium and i wanna buy a iphone in mauritius but i don’t want to buy a unlock version but a luck version, so i can unlock him myself @ home. But the problem is: i don’t know how to asked in the shop, will they let me buy a iphone without contracts and other papers??
Please answer me @ soon as possible
November 5th, 2008 at 07:37
hmm, but why do you want to buy the locked iPhone only to unlock it at home? Well, as far as I know, buying a locked iPhone will need at least a contract of 2 years with the mobile operator… Also, there is no iPhone 3g officially in Mauritius… (and I’m wondering why<_<)
First it was in Septembre, then was supposed to come in October and finally sell in early Novembre… Now we don’t even have any info or whether its gonna be sold here in Mauritius …
November 5th, 2008 at 20:46
if anyone watched tv, Sarat Lallah told it will be a surprise in December, A device can surf the internet ,
I bet he is talking about the Iphone
November 6th, 2008 at 22:04
I beieve the iphone is going to be more expensive than what we might expect it to be… So even Father x-Mas might run out of money… I
November 14th, 2008 at 11:26
I’ve read the whole posts… I’m just wondering, where is the iPhone 3g?!?! We are nearly half-Novembre and we’ve got no news about the iPhone 3g… why are they so silent?!?! Please somone reply…
November 15th, 2008 at 06:11
Hello David, it’s been quite a few months that i’ve been reading the posts concerning the iphone - being a journalist, what i can tell you that orange is keeping it a secret and they don’t want to tell anyone!!!! it’s like secret d’etat - personnally i suspect that they already have some iphones in stock but god knows for what reason they dont want to confirm anything - which i think it’s foolish - anyway orange since its coming to mauritius have done more bad things that positive things - consider that Fair Usage Policy thing - what politique de liberalisation is this?
November 15th, 2008 at 11:48
lol David, me too I’m wondering where is the iPhone 3g supposed to come this month… At least, they should have make a pub or announcement regarding the iPhone… I know and saw that they’ve put a banner of the iPhone 3g on the http://www.orange.mu, but they have removed it for whatever reasons >_>
November 15th, 2008 at 13:32
Today I asked them and he told me to look at orange.mu for the date
November 15th, 2008 at 20:17
If you all go on apple website, you will see that mauritius apps store is not ready… I think that’s why orange is not selling the iphone now.
November 15th, 2008 at 21:40
Well armand, that’s funny as everyday I’m checking the orange.mu and there is no iPhone…. in fact when click on the movile section and add /iphone3g.php at the end, you’ll see the “iPhone 3g que vous attendiez bientot…” somthing like that (Heck they are lazy to update it)