Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is talking to Apple and Research in Motion about launching the Iphone and Blackberry in India through BSNL's network. BNSL says the handsets should be available to its customers by the end of the year.

While Airtel and Vodafone are already offering the handsets, BSNL will be the first Indian telecom company to offer 3G service on the Iphone. Airtel and Vodafone still need to acquire 3G spectrum in the upcoming auctions. But with the government having already granted 3G radio frequencies to BSNL, the company is expected to launch high-end services on its 3G network at the beginning of next year.

BSNL is expected to offer low prices for the 3G Iphone and Blackberry, while Airtel and Vodafone are to offer soft loans through EMI facilities. India is probably the only country where Apple has tied up with two of the biggest GSM operators for its launch, with Airtel and Vodafone having a combined subscriber base of over 126 million. X