Just as September is brining Singtel how on the heels with the first Formula one night race, looks like we are seeing a trend here here the release of the iPhone on your sunny shores (and India) in September as well. Yes you heard it right Singapore, September is the month to get it officially and legally through SingTel.
There are rumors that an estimated ten thousand iPhones will be imported into Singapore for the deal, and there may be a change with Apple’s tight policy of monopolizing only on selected carrers, so as told by Apple’s chief operating officer Tim Cook- Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Investment Symposium on the iPhone not being beholden to the one-carrier strategy used so far, even if it makes the most sense from a business standpoint. More freedom to Mac lovers?
“We’re not married to any business model,” Cook explained. “What we’re married to is shipping the best phones in the world.”
He added that for some areas to get the iPhone, it might be necessary to drop even staple features of most cellphone services. Some areas rarely if ever offer post-pay (subscription) cellphone service, for example, which would require a setup process devoted solely to prepaid options. This isn’t a sign of things Apple will or won’t do in the market, Cook warned investors. The officer also reiterated that there would always be a certain level of hacking no matter how widespread the phone might be, if simply because the demand exists. When users outside of official areas are “stepping over each other” to import iPhones, that indicates significant potential, he said.
The Apple senior staffer also noted that the iPhone’s price cut to $399 during the holidays wasn’t just a reaction to customers who thought the device was too expensive. It helped build momentum and a user base for the upcoming SDK, which he said would let programmers “only be limited by [their] imagination.”
Beyond the iPhone, Cook acknowledged but downplayed concerns that the market for digital music players was oversaturated and cooling off. In a rare admission, the COO admitted that sales for the iPod shuffle had lagged by 17 percent worldwide during the holidays and was the key factor behind new price cuts that should help rekindle sales.
There was also likely some cannibalization of iPhone sales by the iPod touch, but the iPod sold well and needed to be out in the market to set the groundwork for the Wi-Fi mobile platform it represents, he said. However, Cook reassured investors and analysts at the Goldman Sachs event by characterizing the iPhone as the company’s greatest chance at success to date. Apple is still on track to sell 10 million iPhones in 2008, he said — a statement that sent the company’s share price up over 3 percent in after-hours trading.
The iPhone is already an “incredible accomplishment,” he said, but has far more potential in the long term. “I need a word bigger than ‘enormous’ to describe it.”
Given that, there may be a degree of variation from country to country, so don’t be expecting the iPhone 3G to be available to M1 or Starhub telcos as of yet, it’s so far exclusive to Singtel and possibility with the phone locked to ST networks just like how AT&T had been doing it. A first to Singapore as for now? With that, there is no official word whether the phone will be available in Singapore unlocked for other telcos, though Singtel is the only official carrier to sell and distribute the phone here as of now. Its widely expected that by the time it gets out here, the iPhone will be a revised version, presumably utilizing the new 3G chipset to keep up with the competition and local network speeds here in Asia.
So Singaporeans do what you always do your country proud for, its a national sport! Start queuing up (and setting up camp) for the iPhone 3G at the Singtel comm center now!
External info links:
Review of the Apple 3G phone | Blending your iPhone 3G for starters
According to HWZ, 70% chances it will get release in April.
It’s already out in the states though… the iPhone won’t stand a chance if its out in April next year….
OPS, my bad, I mean August! I have no idea why I typed April. lol
any idea how much would it be for a 8gb iphone model be sold in Singapore ?
Well, the iPhone 3G price is $199 USD for the 8GB, and $299 USD for the 16GB model. Based on what our local telcos say on the price point, it will not be marked up by much, so expect it to be the equvilent of the in SGD (say round 1.32 rate now), so we can expect it say round upwards of $300? which is really dirt cheap I can say.
Hello,
I’m coming to Singapore next week and want to research the availability of a 16GB (Black) iPhone 3G. One only. All boxed up and MUST be able to connect to an Australian based GSM company. Do you have them available now, or is their arrival in Singapore not due until September (as I have read elsewhere)?
Kind thanks,
Shane
Hi Shane,
Do you manage to get the phone?
Brian
Shane,
The iPhone 3G will be out on Friday, August 22nd.
Pricing is not out yet, but I do have connections who can get you a set before stock runs out.
You see, Singtel has set up policy to streamline the purchases – reservation of 1 set per customer, and they will serve customers who have reserved a set before walk-in customers.
So, do e-mail me for mroe info.:smile:
There had been rumors that the phones are already in Singapore, so we are looking at an August release!
Actual retail price still to be confirmed.
Is the 3G i-phone now available in Singapore? Where’s the retail outlet? Address pleaseeee……..
Singtel has confirmed that release date is August 22nd, no pricing yet. visit http://www.singtel.com/iphone before August 18th.
After that, no more reservations will be entertained, and you can’t get a set (unless there is still stock when you walk into a HELLO! store AFTER priority customers get their set)
only singtel has it?any other mobile phone operators having it?if so…when?
perhaps buying the phone without contract is the choice for me…the $300 is…with or w/o contract?
Hi SinGapoReaN, currently, it’s only a singtel exclusive item, I think Singtel will have the monopoly as an official iPhone carrier for while before any other telecos come to an agreement for the distribution here in Singapore.