Question on Mobile Phones:

My current phone is faulty and I am looking to buy a new handset. I am getting enlisted into the army soon. My budget is about S$100 and I don't mind signing up for a new contract. I only need a basic phone with possibly a camera onboard, music playback capabilities and candy-bar design. Can you help?

Submitted by CNET Asia reader, via email

Answer:

Since you are going to be enlisted into National Service soon, you should probably consider a non-camera-phone. As far as I know, camera-phones are not allowed in the premises of army camps and even if they are allowed (probably on a case-by-case basis), the user will be required to paste a sticker over the lens of the camera module. I don't think you'll fall under this "exception" since you'll be a recruit first.

Your budget of S$100 is a pretty tight one, but seems plausible if you are signing up for a new line. We ran a feature on phones below S$200, so you may want to start searching from there. If you were to sign a new line, chances are these phones won't cost you a single cent, or perhaps, just a little.

There was another feature we ran quite a while back, but still relevant today is the one on cell phones without cameras. It seems that you are more confident of candybar phones and from that list, the Nokia E60 is the perfect choice. Problem is, I'm not quite sure if you can still find it so easily on the market right now.

ninjaboy

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ninjaboy says...
Actually I've seen convenience stores like 7-11 selling handphones and those are rather barebone ones (and cheap too). Perhaps those might work for army peeps...

Jul 23, 2008 11:35

Prometheus

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Prometheus says...
Get the Sony ericsson C702. Dust and water resistant and also has Global Positioning system technology. Some more rather cheap.
See my blog for a brief writeup on the phone..

Aug 11, 2008 00:06

ninjaboy

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ninjaboy says...
Prometheus, I realised that you are a Malaysian, which will mean that you are pretty much totally unaware of rules of the Singapore Armed Forces (and the seriousness of it). No camera phones. Furthermore, you should read Damian's reply carefully.

Sep 11, 2008 13:54