Singapore Expats

I can use my Dutch mobile in Singapore with its Dutch SIM card in place, no problem, have done so a lot of times. But actually using it with my Dutch telco subscription is prohibitively costly.

So when I visit Singapore next month I'd like to assume a Singaporean identity, i.e. I'd like to subscribe to one of the local telcos, use a local SIM card in my mobile.

Is this possible? Are SIM cards sold separately in Singapoore, i.e. without a mobile attached? And can I use my Dutch mobile by inserting a local SIM card?

Thanks for the help/tips

NBB

Sure, you can get a local provider (i.g. SinTel, StarHub) prepaid card and pay as you go. It works with Europaen mobile phones. Rates are not the cheapest thou.

http://home.singtel.com/consumer/produc ... erview.asp

http://www.m1.com.sg/M1/prepaid/mcard_plans

http://www.starhub.com/mobile/greenprepaid/index.jsp

Simon, Yoon,

Thanks for your posts.

FYI, it doesn't need to be pre-paid at all. I'm quite interested in a subscription. I would like to use my own mobile, however.

IOW, my own mobile, but a subscription from any of the 3 main Singapore telcos, that's what my question is about. Is this possible or are the subscription SIMs not compatible with my European mobile? Perhaps there are other restrictions?

Also, I'm dying to find out if I can patch my landline home phone through to my mobile when I'm in Singapore. I should say that I've heard that this is indeed possible; my particular wish, however, is to patch through in such a way that my home phone will ring, say, 3 or 4 times, only after which the caller is patched through to my mobile. This gives me a chance to pick up my phone when I'm at home, whilst also being available to callers while not at home.

Looking forward to your feedback. I checked the urls but couldn't quite find these particular issues.

Thanks again,

NBB

Hello NBB,

You visit singapore often ? how often ? wats u'r visa status here ? are you on Visit Pass / EP / PR ???

i think there is a forward option in singtel landlines, call the helpdesk and findout more details. any more doubts ???

I believe this package is what u are looking for.

http://home.singtel.com/consumer/produc ... erview.asp

But.. I assume u are talking about a Singapore landline. If u are referring to a foreign landline.. then u need to refer that that country's service provider.

Sg predominantly uses the GSM dual band network, so whether yr mobile works here or not... depends on what system is yr phone based on.

NBB wrote:IOW, my own mobile, but a subscription from any of the 3 main Singapore telcos, that's what my question is about. Is this possible or are the subscription SIMs not compatible with my European mobile? Perhaps there are other restrictions?

GSM is GSM. Unless your phone is SIM-locked, you can use a SIM card from any operator on the planet.

Also, I'm dying to find out if I can patch my landline home phone through to my mobile when I'm in Singapore. I should say that I've heard that this is indeed possible; my particular wish, however, is to patch through in such a way that my home phone will ring, say, 3 or 4 times, only after which the caller is patched through to my mobile. This gives me a chance to pick up my phone when I'm at home, whilst also being available to callers while not at home.

This is a problem for your Dutch telephone company, not the Singaporean telco. Note that if this is possible, it's you who'll be paying for an international call at the full rate whenever somebody calls you...

Thanks JP. But, I'm sorry, I'm not being explicit enough here.

What I mean to do is forward my land phone in Holland to my land phone in my Singapore condo. This is no problem for my Dutch telco. In fact, my land line (office) phone here in Holland has been forwarded to my mobile in Holland for years. The only difference is that when I'm in Singapore, I'm patching through internationally. However, technically it's not an issue.

Yup, I'm aware that it's me who's bearing all the charges. I checked the rates, they're not too bad. In any case, I'm keeping incoming calls short, and will then call back from Singapore asap using my discount calling card. No probs.

Now, this is where things get interesting, because when I'm out in Singapore, I'd like my Singapore land phone to forward the caller to my Singapore mobile. In fact, the Singapore land phone will be programmed to forward callers to my Singapore mobile but only after a delay of about 10 seconds. These 10 seconds will allow me to pick up my ofice phone when I'm actually there to answer the call. When I'm not, the 10 seconds will pass, after which the caller is forwarded to my Singapore mobile, and I eventually get to field this incoming call.

In this latter case, I'm actually paying for both the long distance call from Europe to Singapore, as well as the local call from land line to mobile phone.

Obviously, this system will only work if patching through with this pause is possible in Singapore.

Is it?

Wantseverything, I'm incorporating my company as we speak, plus EP is in the pipeline.

Finally, the phone is not SIM locked and it is GSM; I've used it in Singers before, albeit with my Dutch telco SIM.

Thanks again for your input guys.

NBB

Singtel's call transfer shd do the trick

http://home.singtel.com/consumer/produc ... erview.asp

transfers after 16 secs.

Looking good Yoongf! Cheers

NBB

then its very simple, once you get the EP go to any singtel/starhub/M1 shop with passport(photo identification) and apply for a line. Singtel gives the line across the table.

wantseverything wrote:then its very simple, once you get the EP go to any singtel/starhub/M1 shop with passport(photo identification) and apply for a line. Singtel gives the line across the table.

Sorry, what does that mean? What table? Lost me there I'm afraid.

I am beginning to understand, though, that I can get set up pretty much the way I want, not too much hassle, other than all the forwarding charges I'll be paying .

But at least I'll be available 24/7..... Wait a second... that's a good thing???

i meant, if you provide all the documents they need, you will get the sim instantly. Don't worry mate calls made from land line aren't that costly. So don't be worried about forwarding 8)

Hm, the ones from Holand to Singapore will be a bit pricey, though. But, i guess, since most of them will be business calls, I guess it's just a small price to pay.

Cheers all

NBB