M1 also announces iPhone pricing and sales date

Like a cat and mouse game, M1 announced the pricing plan and sales date of the iPhone just hours after Starhub put up their pricing. Both will start selling the iPhone from 9 December with M1 offering a much more attractive pricing plans than incumbent SingTel and Starhub.

Like other two Telcos, M1 is offering the iPhone 3GS from S$0 for their iPhone Unlimited plan to S$658 for the iPhone 3GS 32GB. The monthly fee for the various plans are generally similar to the others, with similar offerings of call times and SMS/MMS. But what stands out is their offering of 10GB data plans for even the most affordable iPhone Value plan (S$36/mth) – a massive ten times more than what SingTel and Starhub are providing. This will probably be more than enough for most customers, unless you start streaming online music or Youtube videos.

Looking at the price comparison between three Telcos with their iPhone-specific plans, I think the biggest loser will be Starhub. SingTel’s customers with the iPhone 3GS would be locked for at least a year more before they can start switching.

For Starhub customers, it is a different story. There is less a hindrance to switch camps now that number portability is available. With both M1 and Starhub announcing their plans within hours of each other doing so – to switch to M1 with a much lower monthly fee, mostly cheaper iPhone price and a much better data plan – is looking like a much better option!

So who will get your money come 9 December?

Starhub announces iPhone pricing

update 3 – Also those who had pre-ordered, would have receive the email and SMS to inform them of collection. A site was set up to confirm pick up locations but site seems to be offline – probably not load-balance to handle the high influx of customers.

update 2 – got confirmation of the increase in data bundle and also added special bundle for students and NSF.

update – with no official word yet, it seems that Starhub has raise the free data bundle for the iPhone-specific plans to 12GB, from its original 1GB (via CNET Asia)

In a bid to recapture some marketshare in the tight mobile market, Starhub has announced ahead of M1 with their iPhone pricing and sale date.

Coming to stores all over Singapore this Wednesday, Starhub will be the second Telco to offer iPhone to the country. Prices will be from S$0 (for the top tier 3G SmartSurf Unlimited plan) to S$668 for the iPhone 3GS 32GB (3G SmartSurf 100). Data credit starts at 12GB for all plans with a maximum cap of S$48 to unlimited usage for the 3G SmartSurf Unlimited plan.

Tapping on their cable TV infrastructure, Starhub is also offering 17 channels for free, at least till March 2010. These channels include National Geographic Channel, CTI, CCTV4, BBC WorldNews, Bloomberg, CNN, Football Channel just to name a few, as compared to the 4 (CNA, Ch8, Bloomberg TV and Football Frenzy) offered by SingTel.

Also for students and NSF who take up these SmartSurf plans – you will get unlimited SMS/MMS bundled with those plans.

We have done up a quick pricing comparison with SingTel and what Starhub announced and generally prices are comparable with only differences with call, Data and SMS credits (see below for quick review). We will update the comparison when M1 announces their plans.

For those who had pre-ordered, you would probably receive notifications about getting priority access to the new iPhone 3GS. At the moment, there is no news on whether there will be upgrading fee for Starhub users still on contract, or trade-in prices for existing iPhone 3G phones and any package for switchers. We will definitely update with more information on launch plans and features from Starhub and M1 in the next few days. Keep a look out!

For Starhub customers who had already owns the iPhone – do check your iTunes for a carrier update that will allow you to Tether and MMS with not much hassle – as compared to before.

new Apple iPhone ads shows SingTel’s limitation

Apple released two new TVCs showcasing the abilities of the iPhone 3GS to support both voice and data, amidst some mudslinging between AT&T and Verizon. But what those ads bring to light, is the 3G limitation of SingTel here in Singapore.

As you can see from the TVCs, you are able to call and also surf the web with Safari, check the emails – basically do anything with a data connection – but that is not supported here. As twittered by a friend who called SingTel hotline – it is due to “existing infrastructure” that we can’t do that here. Is that the case with M1 or Starhub network?

Anyway, here are the ads:

1. Multi-People

2. Where’s the movie

Starhub’s taking orders for iPhone now

Never the first, but who’s complaining right? Starhub started taking orders for iPhone 3GS with a similar pre-order coming just a few days after M1′s similar program.

Besides that, there is no news of any packages, promotions or pricing information from both M1 and Starhub. We will update you immediately upon hearing them! Keep a look out!

Starhub bringing iPhone … finally

As some of you might know, I for one has been waiting for a long time for Starhub to get the iPhone … two long years. And after M1 got the deal, I decided that the wait is not worthwhile and so – too bad for Starhub, I’ve gone RED.

Well, they took their time and for those who are still with Starhub, good for you! They will finally bring the iPhone by the end of this year. No news on pricing and availability, but with M1 also making the iPhone available this year, it would probably be launched at the same time.

So if you have been waiting on the fence about switching to get the iPhone, the decisions been made for you.

And with this announcement, the finally piece of the puzzle is out – iPhone will rule Singapore!