Iphone for 31k ---- is it worth it?

Is the new Iphone 3G really worth 31k? Especially since it sells in the US for $200. I couldn't care less if I had to sign a 2 year contract with Vodafone(vodatha-fone) or Airtel. I was hoping they will make it competitive enough to Nokia N95. I guess Apple quoted the same price to AT&T in US and Vodafone & Airtel in India. And Vodafone and Airtel have just thought of passing on the cost to the customer instead of even thinking of some creative marketing.

But you cant really blame Vodafone or Airtel for this because they cannot hook you onto Iphone for browsing using the 3G because, guess what they have not got the spectrum allocated. And there is no guarantees they are going to get it either. So why are we queuing up to buy something which might not actually work with the provider? And that too at a higher cost than any other place except Belgium (where Iphone costs something like $850). I dont know the answer to this question, maybe someone who else who reads this does.

If I were an advisor to Steve Jobs, I would have suggested to manufacture some more of the older generation Iphone for countries such as India where the 3G spectrum itself has not been allocated. I guess there must be a very valid reason for pushing a highly expensive phone with features that cannot be used and hoping to capture the market.

Only time will tell how much of the market Apple will capture in India ahead of Nokia. But you can help them capture it by going and picking your phone from your nearest Vodafone store at midnight (Because I am sure you cant wait one more day and would rather give up your sleep and still buy this).

I am glad I am not going and buying it because I already have my first generation Iphone.