Month: August 2008

What the hell is wrong with Singtel?

In its FAQ page for the iPhone, they stated that one can buy the iPhone by signing up for a normal voice plan. For data, they referred to the standard Broadband on Mobile (BBoM) plans page. These plans have a cap of 50 GB.

However, in another page, they actually advised consumers to get a special Broadband on Mobile Plus plan that is different from the standard BBoM plans, costs more than the standard plans, and have a cap of only 500MB!

What exactly is wrong with Singtel? Their marketing materials are in a total mess, with contradicting information all over, and placing a call to their customer service does not help as the CSOs have no information about the iPhone launch at all.

The largest telco in Southeast Asia?

You guys suck big time.

Why am I not surprised that Singtel is so closely tied to the Singapore government?

Fuck you Singtel. Stop treating Singaporeans as idiots!

Update: Singtel has completely changed their FAQ page so a lot of the information here no longer applies. They even changed their plans at the last minute. Sneaky bastards

As expected, Singtel made official their iPhone plans tonight.

You can check out the plans here but they are not too different from what was originally leaked this afternoon.

I am going for the iOne plan and will be paying $850 singapore dollars for an originally advertised as USD$299 phone.

Then again, if you consider the fact that to Singtel, the raw cost of the iPhone 16GB is $1200SGD (from their contract-free Optus sale), paying $850 dollars for the 16GB iPhone while signed to a 2 year contract is decent actually, for we get a “rebate/discount” of $350 dollars.

Edit: Apparently they are trying to trick Singaporeans with their confusing BBoM policies. Check the post above for more details.

This is a call out to all potential iPhone buyers this friday. We should be boycott these nonsensical plans and prices!

Edited: Change of heart here. After looking at the official Singtel plans, the iOne plan is decent for 26 dollars per month and $850 dollars for the 16GB iPhone. They are not forcing data plans on us. Decent.

Taken from the hardwarezone forums, leinad(moderator) posted;

“Three new data plans (all prices with GST)

iFlexi Value – $56 – 300 MB Data – 200 Mins Outgoing Voice – 500 SMS
iFlexi Plus – $95 – 500 MB Data – 500 Mins Outgoing Voice – 500 SMS
iFlexi Premium – $205 – 1500 MB Data – 1500 Mins Outgoing Voice – 1500 SMS

Additional data usage charged at 1cent for each 2KB extra. These plans also come with 3 value added services free (Voicemail, roaming and Caller ID)

Handset price (varies depending on the price plan)

Plan 8GB 16GB
————————————————–
iFlexi Value 348 508
iFlexi Plus 49 208
iFlexi Premium Free Free

if you do not want to sign up for the above plans, and want to use your existing voice only plan and add the mobile on broadband plans, then the handset price will be more expensive and you will have to sign either a 24 month or 30 month contract

8GB – $568
16GB – $728”

Important: Please take note this information was taken directly from Hardwarezone Forums and I am just doing proxy reporting. I have yet to call up Singtel to verify the news.

According to witnesses, a 2-storey high glass house has been spotted near the Singtel Comcentre located near Somerset MRT Station, apparently with the words “it’s finally here”. Could this glass house or whatever it is be part of the launch plans for the iPhone?

It’s Tuesday, I reckoned we will hear something from Singtel by today. Hopefully.

Yes yes, I know I should have posted this long ago. I was lazy. Here’s it anyway. The email from Singtel basically announcing that the iPhone will be in by the end of the month.

Reuters has put out news that Singtel will indeed launch the 3G iPhone in Singapore in August 2008. This is in sync with our earlier reports about having the 3G iPhone launch before September, rather than the original September release the local mass media has been trumpeting for months.

More information here.