People are still a lot crazy about the iPhones but they are pretty much out of the reach of most of the people due to the high price tag they carry. Apple iPhone 3G costs about $99 in U.S. if you go for a 2 year contract while 3GS costs about $199. The price initially looks cheap but if you calculate the 2 year contract fees, which has $30/month data plan as mandatory charges for 2 years, it works out pretty costly in the end. After 2 years the same iPhone 3G will cost you about $819! That’s an insanely high price. So in short iPhone isn’t cheap anywhere in the world but it just made to look so. Apple iPhone 3G costs about Rs.31k in India which is locked with Airtel or Vodafone as they are the only two service providers who sells iPhones officially while 3GS costs somewhere around 45k. However, you can get an unlocked one for about the same price on ebay as well. All these iPhones on ebay are unlocked and are ready to use with any network.

What’s interesting is that none of the unlocked iPhones come with warranty. Hence even if you bought one which is sealed packed and you got bill for that, it’s useless if you were to claim warranty for that. Even if you were you were to buy the ones that are locked with Airtel or Vodafone, they provide only 60 days of warranty. So in short, warranty on iPhone is just not available in India.

Anyways, coming to the point. I am not saying you not to get the iPhone. All I wanted to say is, if you want to get an iPhone you can get them cheap in two ways:

1. Get a Grey Market iPhone.

It will be new and even sealed packed in some cases and at a much lower price. There are lot of such iPhones going on ebay.in for as low as Rs.22.5k for a 3G and 34k for 3GS. All of them are sold under ‘Used for 25 days but like new’ or such descriptions as selling grey market phones is not legal. You can just contact the seller there and clear your doubts.

Advantages of Grey Market iPhones:

1. They are already unlocked with latest OS.
2. Comes with pre-installed apps as well.
3. Comes with a price tag that is at least less by 25%.

2. Get a Used iPhone and Get Cosmetic Changes Done.

Another good option is get a used 3G or 3GS for dirt cheap price from places like ebay. Just make sure they don’t have any problems with screen digitizer and never been opened. Get a iPhone panel from ebay again and get it changed at a mobile repair shop. Complete iPhone housing costs anywhere around Rs.1ooo to Rs.1500. And you can have a brand new like iPhone at a dirt cheap price. (This cannot be done with 2G’s as they come with metallic body and metallic panel is not available in India)