I thought it would be a good idea to share the ordering and shipping experience with others – especially those who are wanting to get hold of an ADP1 in India. Instead of writing the entire experience chronologically, I thought I would  jot it as a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Following were a few questions that bothered me while ordering the phone, while the phone was being shipped and when I got to unbox it:

Frequently Asked Questions on shipping Android Dev Phone 1 to India

1. What is the total cost ?
   $571.71 (USD)
2. Why do I have to pay so much ?
   This cost includes the shipping and the duty. Following is the bifurcation :
   Cost of the device: $399.00
   Tax/Duties: $125.21
   Shipping and Handling: $47.50
3. Can I reduce the cost by opting for an alternate shipping option, even if it takes longer to ship ?
   No alternate shipping option is offered for shipping to India.
4. Does the shipping option offer tracking ?
   Yes. See FAQ 12
5. Is there any hidden cost ?
   No.
   Note But you must know that to buy the phone you will need to register at Android Market for which you will have to pay around $25. Refer to my post “Was about to buy an Android“
6. What is the mode of payment ?
   Credit Card
7. Can I pay through Paypal ?
   No.
   Note: I too wanted to pay through Paypal since I had some balance there. But could not find an option
8. How much time does it take to ship the phone to India ?
   3 days
   Note: I ordered the phone on 16th March and got it on 18th. It was a Monday evening when I ordered and got the phone on Thursday afternoon. Note that the phone was shipping during business days. If holidays or weekends fall in between, the shipping may be delayed.
9. Will  I be notified about the order and the shipping status ?
   You will get notified by two  E-mails sent from noreply at brightstarcorp dot com. The first E-mail is sent after a successful order with the order details. The second E-mail is sent as soon as the phone is dispatched for shipping and includes the tracking number to track the device in transit.
10. How much time does it to dispatch the phone for shipping after a successful order ?
    About 24 hours
11. Whom/how do I contact for queries on shipping etc. ?
    Send an E-mail to “android at brightstarcorp dot com”
    Note: I sent an E-mail asking how can I track the order and got a reply in less than 8 hours
12. How can I track my shipping ?
    Go to the URL http://www.ups.com/WebTracking/track?loc=en_US, type in the tracking number and click on track.
13. How do I find the “tacking number”?
    Refer to one of the following:
    • Refer to the second E-mail sent from “noreply at brightstarcorp dot com” with the subject as “Your Order Has Been Shipped”.
    • Login to Android Market and goto the URL http://android.brightstarcorp.com/trackorder.php
      
14. I got my phone but I’m not able to find the microSD card
    It comes inserted in the phone
15. I got my phone but I’m not able to find any stylus to use the touch screen
    The package does not include a stylus. Android is meant to be operated using fingers, just like iPhone. For best results use your thumbs.

Hope this helps my countrymen in going ahead and bringing home one the most wonderful phones – The Android Dev Phone 1.

Disclaimer: The above FAQ is strickly my personal buying experince and any or all information may be different in your case.