Customers in India can now book their Apple iPhone 3G. Vodafone India has started pre-registration for the iPhone 3G.

However the issuance of final guidelines on the auction of the 3G spectrum and licenses in India are yet to be finalised by the government.

Vodafone promises that after pre-registration, iPhone buyers in India need not take the trouble of standing in queue for the so called Jesus phone. But the Vodafone has not yet disclosed when the iPhone 3G will be available for the customers. Indian government is still working out modalities and guidelines for rolling out 3G phones in India. The major confusion is over the issue of participation of foreign companies in bidding process. This is owing to the battle between the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) over the auction of 3G spectrum and licences. TRAI wants only existing players to take part in the bid for the 3G spectrum.

After acquiring a major stake in Hutchison Essar, Vodafone is already an operator in India. The company had announced earlier this year that it would provide the iPhone 3G in India during 2008.

As of now, the Apple iPhone 3G offered by Vodafone will be compatible only with 2G networks and some of its features might not work in India. Vodafone would like to have a marketing edge over the other companies by offering pre-registration of iPhone 3G for customers. Recently, Vodafone had published an advertisement in leading Indian daily offering customers to pre-register for the iPhone 3G.

Bharti Airtel, another large Indian telecom operator, has also anoounced that they will launch the Apple iPhone 3G in India later this year. Howeverm Airtel has not specified the date for the availability of the iPhone to its customers.

The 8GB Iphone 3G will start shipping worldwide on July 11, 2008.

Apple iPhone is compatible with Microsoft ActiveSync software and other 3rd party application. Software developers can build iPhone applications using the iPhone SDK kit. The phone feature a 8GB / 16GB memory, Assisted GPS, New applications, Greater autonomy.