Airtel Unlocks Your iPhone For Free – Just Wait 12 Months
This is some great news for all of us who want to use iPhone on their personal network like Spice, Idea. So, Airtel declared that the locking period is just for 1year, after which you can unlock the iPhone and use it on any network of your choice. This is what written on Airtel India Website Terms and Conditions
This phone can only be used with an Airtel connection. Customers can enjoy free 500 MB of data download / month for 12 months. The charges beyond this usage will be Re 0.30/50 Kb. After the expiry of 12 months, customer can opt for a plan of his choice from the different plans available on offer. This offer is not valid if used on any other phone. To activate this GPRS offer, please request the Helpdesk at any Airtel outlet. Upon activation of this offer, customer will give up the tariffs and benefits available on the existing plan. After the expiry of the offer period of 12 months, customer may get this phone unlocked free of cost which will allow use of SIM from any other service provider. In case customer unlocks the phone before the expiry of 12 months, all warranties / benefits are null and void. For more details, call 121 from your mobile or log in to www.airtel.in.
I will say that just wait and watch what happens next 
I purchased iphone 3Gs which is locked to airtel .I completed 12 months and trying to officially unlock from airtel but not successful. Inspite of many emails to nodal officer karnataka I havent got any reply but only automated response. Even I called the number of nodal officer but it was also of no use.just waiting for a positive thing to happen as it had happened to many people above!
I got my iphone 3g unlocked via Airtel. I had purchased the 3g about 2.5 years back in Indranagar airtel store in Bangalore. I now upgraded to a iphone 4. I requested Airtel to unlock by calling 121. They promised action with in 15 days. It is finally unlocked now. Had to make the 121 calls about 6 times to follow up. I got a call back from customer care executive (121) telling me that the phone is unlocked. I took first a back up of the iphone 3g. Then erase all contents and settings on the iphone via setting. Finally after about 20 minutes got a message – insert a sim card with out PIN lock and connect to itunes. I connected my BSNL sim card and connected to itunes. Got the message “Carrier settings have been changed for your phone. Check carrier settings for you phone”. I clicked on Check. Then I got the message “your iphone is activated”. Restored settings. Made a call and working fine
I’ve been trying to get my iPhone 3GS unlocked forf weeks now, and the guys aren’t doing it. despite wasting hours on their customer service and visits to their koramangala office. I mean, what the hell is this. I need to get it unlocked urgently, and looks like they are not willing ti. If anyone has any contact #’s I can reach, please leave a message here.