iPhone's debut in India didn't have any of the "mass hysteria" that accompanied its launch in other places such as Europe or the US, reports contentSutra.

However, there was relative enthusiasm in the reception of the iPhone, since those who can afford to get their hands on one can boast about the mobile phone that can boost their "status" and "success".

The lukewarm welcome was expected, since the US$ 700-800 price tag is about twice as much as the monthly salary of a white-collar middle manager.

Instead, the people buying the phone are mostly "maharajas", "rich kids" and "entrepreneurs".

Prior to its release last week, the phone already gained popularity through India's black market.

iPhone's official entry into the Indian market may offer news outlets the chance to reach a wider audience with the help of mobile applications, as France's Le Figaro and the Associated Press have done.

Source: contentSutra

See also:

France: Le Figaro launches iPhone site
US: NYT launches iPhone application
AP launches native iPhone application
IHT.com launches iPhone-optimized site
US: Mobile technology may be important to media outlets in the future