I was there last year at the Singtel iPhone 3G Launch queuing up for the iPhone 3G as a normal consumer. This year I was also there, but with a media pass. I was there pretty early at about 1.30pm because I have to go to Funan to run some errands. The media event started at about 3.30pm. We are brought around the Comcenter by Yuen Kuan Moon, the EVP of Consumer from Singtel. He explains to us the various part of the queue structure and how the customers will move about when queuing. Apart from that, Singtel announced a new service called Mio TV on Mobile. Customers can get to stream live tv stream from Channel 8, Channel News Asia, Bloomberg and a few others. It is not an iPhone App, but rather the streaming is done in Safari itself. It is pretty impressive as the quality is watchable and it doesn’t lag.

According to Kuan Moon, this year the response was much better than last year. He did not give an exact figure but he says in thousands. Last year the launch of iPhone 3G is basically register of interest and user still have to queue up. But this year, Singtel did a pre-order and require the customers to make a deposit of SGD$50 before queuing. There is also a separate queue for walk-in customers which closes at about 9pm due to the overwhelming response on the pre-order queue.

The event was not a midnight launch but rather only a 4 hour event from 8pm all the way to 12midnight. I have no idea whether they closes at 12midnight yesterday as from what I know at 9pm, the waiting time was 6 hours according to their website.

Similar to last year, the host this year was Glenn Ong from Class 95 as well. Mediacorp artists like Pierre Png, Joanna Peh, Felicia Chin was also there. Instead of the glass house which Singtel specially built for the iPhone 3G launch last year, this year they are using tentage. Also, there are tentage all over the queue area because some customers complained about being in the rain as last year when they are queuing up.

I used my Dad’s line and got my iPhone 3GS 32GB Black at SGD$678 on iFlexi Lite plan. I upgrade his Classic plan to iFlex Lite and got SGD$100 off, I got a SGD$120 Red Prestige voucher from my uncle and hence the iPhone 3GS price became SGD$678 – (SGD$100 + SGD$120) = SGD$458.

The only way to tell an iPhone 3G from iPhone 3GS is at the back. A1303 refers to iPhone 3GS and 32GB will definitely be a 3GS. Also the part the text it says iPhone is shiny for iPhone 3GS and white for iPhone 3G.

Facebook Gallery: Singtel iPhone 3GS Launch

For SingTel iPhone 4S prices, check out this post, http://lesterchan.net/blog/2011/10/27/singtel-iphone-4s-price-plans/.

For SingTel iPhone 4 prices, check out this post, http://lesterchan.net/blog/2010/07/27/singtel-iphone-4-price-plans/.

Singtel has release their iPhone 3GS prices, for consumers the URL to go to is https://www.singtelshop.com/iPhone3GS/ and for business users, the URL to go to is https://business.singtelshop.com/business/iphone/index.html. As expected, the prices are pretty much the same as iPhone 3G when it was launch, you can check it out in my blog post at Singtel iPhone Price Plans.

It seems that Singtel has just screwed iPhone 3G users by imposing a penalty of SGD$600 if you only fulfilled between 6 to 12 months of contract and SGD$300 if you fulfilled between 12 months and 21 months of contract! Singtel should not forget that majority of the users that will purchase iPhone 3G will most likely purchase iPhone 3GS!

*Update* For early iPhone 3G Users adopters who got the iPhone 3G during August 2008, instead of paying SGD$600, Singtel will give you 50% off and you will just have to pay SGD$300 for the penalty instead of the usual SGD$600. This promotion is only applicable during the launch period on the 10th, 11th and 12 July 2009. If you get on the 13th July 2009 onwards, you are back to paying SGD$600 for the penalty.. This promotion has been extended till the end of July 2009.

*Update* Updated on 15th December 2009, SingTel increases the data usage of iFlexi plans to 12GB and decreases the iPhone 3GS prices.

iFlexi Plans

• iFlexi Lite – SGD$39
  • 12GB Data
  • 100 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 500 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: SGD$518
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: SGD$658
• iFlexi Value – SGD$56
  • 12GB Data
  • 200 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 500 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: SGD$248
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: SGD$398
• iFlexi Plus – SGD$95
  • 12GB Data
  • 500 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 500 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: Free
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: SGD$98
• iFlexi Premium – SGD$205
  • 30GB Data
  • 2,000 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 2,000 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: Free
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: Free

3G Flexi Plans

• 3G Flexi Lite – SGD$39.00
  • 500 MB
  • 100 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 500 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: SGD$548
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: SGD$678

• 3G Flexi – SGD$56.00
  • 1 GB
  • 200 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 500 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: SGD$348
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: SGD$508

• 3G Flexi Plus – SGD$95.01
  • 2 GB
  • 500 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 500 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: SGD$49
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: SGD$208

Voice Only Plans

• Classic – SGD$29.96
  • No Data
  • 150 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 360 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: SGD$568
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: SGD$728
• iOne Plus – SGD$25.68
  • No Data
  • 100 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 500 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: SGD$698
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: SGD$848
• iTwo Value – SGD$48.15
  • No Data *
  • 300 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 500 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: SGD$348
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: SGD$508
• iTwo Plus – SGD$82.93
  • No Data *
  • 700 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 500 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: SGD$49
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: SGD$208
• iThree Plus – SGD$192.60
  • No Data *
  • 2,000 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 2,000 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: Free
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: Free
• Premium 700 – SGD$94.16
  • No Data *
  • 700 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 360 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: SGD$49
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: SGD$208
• Premium 1500 – SGD$201.16
  • No Data *
  • 1,500 Mins Outgoing Voice
  • 360 SMS
  • iPhone 3GS 16GB Price: Free
  • iPhone 3GS 32GB Price: Free

Data Only Plans

• Broadband on Mobile Lite – SGD$3.50
  • Download Speed: 7.2Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 1.5Mbps
  • Free Local Bundled Usage: 2 MB
• Broadband on Mobile Plus – SGD$19.90
  • Download Speed: 7.2Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 1.5Mbps
  • Free Local Bundled Usage: 1 GB
• Broadband on Mobile Premium – SGD$29.90 (New)
  • Download Speed: 7.2Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 1.5Mbps
  • Free Local Bundled Usage: 10 GB
• Broadband on Mobile Platinum – SGD$39.90 (New)
  • Download Speed: 7.2Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 1.5Mbps
  • Free Local Bundled Usage: 30 GB
• Broadband on Mobile 1000 – SGD$22.42
  • Download Speed: 1Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 384kbps
  • Free Local Bundled Usage: 30 GB
• Broadband on Mobile Youth – SGD$29.00
  • Download Speed: 1.5Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 384kbps
  • Free Local Bundled Usage: 50 GB
  • For Students & NSFs Only
• Broadband on Mobile 2000 – SGD$37.00
  • Download Speed: 2Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 512kbps
  • Free Local Bundled Usage: 50 GB
• Broadband on Mobile 4000 – SGD$51.00
  • Download Speed: 4Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 1Mbps
  • Free Local Bundled Usage: 50 GB
• Broadband on Mobile 7200 – SGD$72.76
  • Download Speed: 7.2Mbps
  • Upload Speed: 1.5Mbps
  • Free Local Bundled Usage: 50 GB

Note

• Prices stated are including 7% GST.
• For iFlexi plans, the data connection has 7.2 Mbps downstream speed

Links

• View Singtel Shop: Singtel iPhone 3GS
• View Singtel Broadband on Mobile price plans
• View Singtel Postpaid Mobile price plans
• View Singtel iPhone price plans

Singtel will be launching the new iPhone 3GS on Friday, 10th July 2009. Hopefully it will NOT be during office hour.

Received this SMS From Singtel

IPHONE: You have a date next Friday 10 July with your new iPhone 3GS – keep it free! We will email you early next week with launch event details, prices and upgrade options. Have a good weekend and see u next Friday! It’s going to be huge!

Looks like the launch of Singtel iPhone 3GS is getting nearer, got this in my mailbox yesterday:

Click to view the full teaser email

Here is what it says:

Hi Lester,

Thank you very much for your interest in the iPhone3GS!

I know you are waiting for details on pricing and the launch event. Don’t worry, as you have registered, you will be among the first to know.

Expect an email from me with details of our great launch offers. Keep an eye on your inbox to stay ahead of the game.

The iPhone 3GS lets you do it even faster than before. Launch and switch between applications quickly. Shoot, edit and share video right on your phone. Make a call or play a song using just your voice. And discover many more features that make iPhone 3GS the best iPhone yet.

Plus this device also downloads data much quicker at 7.2 Mbps using SingTel’s unrivalled 3G network. With all its remarkable features – the wait will certainly be worth it.

If you have friends who want to be ahead of the pack they can register at www.singtel.com/reg

Sorry to tease you; I will be back with more: soon.

With best regards,

Wong Soon Nam
Vice President – Consumer Marketing

You can register your interest with Singtel for iPhone 3GS at https://www.singtelshop.com/iPhone3GS/.

Apple announced the new iPhone 3G S, S stands for speed. Basically, everything is the same as the iPhone 3G including the looks.

Here are the changes as compared to the iPhone 3G:

• Improved performance
• Improved battery (though not much difference)
• 7.2Mbps HSDPA (iPhone 3G was 3.6Mbps)
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (iPhone 3G was 2.0)
• 3-megapixel autofocus camera with macro mode and auto white balance
• Video recording at 30fps VGA with on-device editing capability
• Voice control that allows you to dial and control your music
• Digital compass
• Headphones include an inline remote for music control
• 3D graphics support in hardware
• Nike + support built-in
• Supports accessibility features, like zooming on text, inverting video, and voice over when you touch whatever text is on screen.
• Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating screen

It will be available in Singapore by Singtel in July 2009. Just to let you know Singtel supports Internet Tethering as well as MMS for the iPhone OS 3. Seriously I think lots of Americans is hating AT&T right now because both Internet Tethering and MMS is not yet supported by AT&T.

iPhone OS 3 will be released on Wednesday, 17th June 2009 worldwide. With iPhone OS 3, I see no point in jailbreaking maybe besides the ability to change theme and SSH.

Keeping my fingers cross to see if Singtel allows last year iPhone 3G users to upgrade to iPhone 3G S.

Links

• Apple Singapore: iPhone
• Apple Singapore: iPhone 3G S
• Apple Singapore Store: iPhone