Vodafone, Iphone and Swine Flu
Comments (9) 
Apple Iphone
I love the Apple Iphone. It is a device high on ease of use, features and style. It perfectly blends great looks with usability.
I have always wanted to own one of these beautiful devices. Now, after much cajoling and coaxing, I am in a position to buy an iphone and attain digital nirvana.
The problem: my present phone [a very battered Nokia] has all but died and I need to find a new cell phone soon. The latest model of the Iphone, the 3GS [S stands for speed] hasn’t been launched in India yet. The 3GS adds a lot of nifty features to what is an already great device.
Why exactly the 3GS is not in India escapes me, considering this is the second largest cell phone market in the world. Still, Apple has been hinting that the latest and greatest Iphone will hit these shores sometime this month.
You wouldn’t think so, given that their is zero publicity for the device, from either Airtel or Vodafone - the two companies which are allowed to sell Iphones in India.
Given that I (urgently) need to buy a new phone, and I want that phone to be an Iphone, I have two options – either buy the model currently available in the market [and run the risk of being outdated within a matter of days] or wait for a few more days and buy the 3GS as soon it hits the Indian market.
Having decided on option 2, I have been scouring the web for any news related to the imminent arrival of the 3GS. The Airtel and Vodafone websites have zilch. Apple promotes the 3GS on its India site but doesn’t talk of a release date. The web has failed me as a source of credible information.
Worry not, I tell myself, and start working the phones. “We don’t sell Iphones in India – contact vodafone or airtel”, the Apple dealer in Delhi informs me [somewhat rudely]. I get similarly pleas of ignorance from the two service providers.
Finally, I drag myself down to the large Vodafone store in CP.
Me: I wish to make inquiries about the Iphone
Clerk [must be some kind of "executive"]: keval inquiries, ya khareedna chahtein hain ? [do you just want to inquire, or are you interested in buying?]
Me: khareedna hai [I want to buy]
C: I have only 16 GB model available.
Me: 3GS ? (hopefully)
C: no, 3G
Me: When would 3GS be available ?
C: No idea.
Me: You have absolutely no clue ?
C: None (rudely)
Me: Look here, my phone is broken, I want to give you 30000 bucks for a new phone, the least you can do is share with me any information you might have on the iphone
C: It might take 3 months
Me: but apple has said it will come in august!
C: 3 months. You buy 3G
Me: What if I buy it and then next day 3GS becomes available, I would be wasting my money.
C: In any case, I sell blackberries [produces different blackberry models for my perusal]
Me: let’s see [halfheartedly, after all I had not gone to buy a bloody blackberry]
C: Iphone data transfer plans from Vodafone are very expensive (!!). You should go for blackberry
At this point, a terrible thing happens [even worse than not getting an Iphone] – the man sneezes. thrice. without the use of a handkerchief.
Needless to say, I beat a hasty retreat from the store.
Getting home, I pounced upon a bunch of Tulsi leaves – traditional wisdom suggests that tulsi is a miraculous remedy for all kinds of influenza. Well, I’d choose tulsi over tamiflu anyday!
