Buying the iPhone 3GS in Singapore

By Damian Koh
Jul 06, 2009

Apple iPhone 3GS
(Click for full review)

Mark your calendar. The iPhone 3GS will be available in Singapore this Friday, July 10. We've compiled answers to all the burning questions you may have below. Hit us in Talkback if you have any other queries. If you want to follow the news about the iPhone 3GS and the 3.0 software, this is where you should be. Or if you want to know the launch dates of the iPhone 3GS in Asia, click here.

How much is the iPhone 3GS in Singapore?
The 16GB iPhone 3GS will cost S$548 if you sign up for the iFlexi Lite two-year plan with a monthly subscription of S$39. The 32GB model will cost S$678 on the same plan. For more details, refer to our table below. According to SingTel, users who port over their numbers from MobileOne (M1) or StarHub will get S$100 off the price of the handset.

iPhone 3GS/3G price plans
	iFlexi Lite	iFlexi Value	iFlexi Plus	iFlexi Premium
Monthly fee	S$39	S$56	S$95	S$205
Price of 8GB iPhone 3G	S$398	S$138	Free	Free
Price of 16GB iPhone 3GS	S$548	S$288	Free	Free
Price of 32GB iPhone 3GS	S$678	S$438	S$138	Free
Bundled data (7.2Mbps)	500MB	1GB	2GB	3GB
Bundled outgoing minutes	100	200	500	1,500
Bundled SMS/MMS	500	500	500	1,500

What are my upgrade options if I have the current iPhone 3G?
If you've fulfilled at least six months of your contract, you are eligible for an early upgrade offer where you'll be required to top up S$600. You can, however, trade-in your 8GB and 16GB iPhone 3G at S$300 and S$400, respectively. The 24-month tenure isn't cumulative. This means that if you've finished 11 months on your current iPhone 3G plan and you're upgrading to the iPhone 3GS, your new two-year contract starts all over again.

According to SingTel, if the first batch of iPhone 3G owners waited till they reach the 12-month mark, they need pay only S$300 for the upgrade. But the telco operator told us that those who bought their iPhone 3G in August 2008 can also get this "advance" upgrade fee before their contract reaches 12 months.

Can I buy the iPhone 3GS without signing up for a contract?
No.

What happens if I wish to terminate the 24-month contract prematurely?
We don't have details to the termination penalty yet, although SingTel has said this should roughly be similar to last year's terms and conditions with the iPhone 3G. So if you've been on the plan for less than three months based on the previous policy, you'll need to pay the three months' list price plus S$800 equipment penalty. If you've fulfilled at least three months on your contract, you simply pay for the S$800 equipment penalty

Is there a prepaid option?
No.

Do I have to sign up for the iFlexi plans if I'm currently on a different plan?
No, you can still use your existing plan although the pricing of the handset may be different. You can sign up for the Broadband on Mobile Plus plans as an addon if you want data usage.

According to SingTel, existing iPhone users who are currently not on iFlexi plans will get an S$100 discount when they upgrade and subscribe to an iFlexi plan. They will get another S$100 discount if they sign up for additional Broadband on Mobile plan.

Can I purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan (APP) for the iPhone 3GS?
Yes, you can purchase the APP (S$99) anytime within the one-year limited warranty period. The APP will extend the coverage by an additional two years from the original purchase date of the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS comes with 90 days of complimentary technical support. The handset, rechargeable battery and included accessories are also covered against defects for one year from date of purchase under a limited hardware warranty.

Do I need to activate the iPhone 3GS at the point of purchase in the store?
Yes, activation of the handset has to be done in-store at the point of purchase. Users can, however, register the handset via iTunes at home.

Where can I buy the iPhone 3GS?
The iPhone 3GS will be available at the SingTel Comcentre between July 10 and July 12, and thereafter at SingTel retail shops, exclusive retailers and Apple premium resellers.

Can I use my 2G/2.5G SIM card with the iPhone 3GS?
You'll need to upgrade to a new 3G U-SIM if you are using a 2G SIM card. Otherwise, a 2.5G SIM card will still work on the iPhone 3GS.

Can I send MMS and tether the iPhone 3GS?
Yes for both.

Can I still buy the iPhone 3G?
Yes. However, only the 8GB model is available on SingTel. The handset is free if you sign up for the iFlexi Plus or iFlexi Premium plans. For the iFlexi Value and iFlexi Lite plans, the device will cost S$138 and S$398, respectively.

Is the iPhone 3GS from SingTel SIM-locked?
No, mobile phones sold in Singapore cannot be SIM-locked due to regulatory requirements. The handset will, however, be preset to the SingTel network. This means you can use M1's and StarHub's SIM cards with the iPhone 3GS. Depending on which operator you are with, the data settings may vary.

Tags: Apple iPhone, Plan, SIM Card, Apple iPhone 3G, termination

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