I-Phone Purchase

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:20 am

Any thoughts as to who has the best plans and prices? Right now, I use Starhub for TV and broadband... I understand that they offer a package deal that includes mobile phone service as well.

Cheers.

sierra2469alpha · Post by **sierra2469alpha** » Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:42 am

SE: re StarHub - yes they do - it's called Hub Club. If you have all your services linked to the same address, you get 20% off your monthly plan fee for each mobile, 10% off CATV, 5% off broadband, etc. Found the details here: http://www.starhub.com/portal/site/Rewa ... 425a0aRCRD

They have regular other promotions as a HubClub member also.

As always, it's about choosing the right plan for your calling patterns as you well know.

Good luck with it...P

orientalgirl · Post by **orientalgirl** » Thu, 19 Mar 2009 4:14 pm

But if you are looking for iphone, currently Singtel should be the only provider now.

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Thu, 19 Mar 2009 4:52 pm

orientalgirl wrote:But if you are looking for iphone, currently Singtel should be the only provider now.

So I have discovered. If I go with M1 or Starhub (which seem to have much better data pricing) I'll have to buy the phone for full freight.

Any suggestions from anyone as to the best place to buy an IPhone outside of Singapore? (Although it looks like just doing the Singtel thing will be the most economical).

sierra2469alpha · Post by **sierra2469alpha** » Thu, 19 Mar 2009 5:15 pm

Well the usual way of looking at it is how much the handset is subsidised vs. the plan fee and other benefits. Don't fall into the usual traps that Apple and their "preferred" suppliers want you to. Done a CBA on the full-frieght vs. discounted price? I assume you've also done the research on the iPhone, and that it's fit-for-purpose? Plenty of better handsets around IMHO.

Anyway - tried to help

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Thu, 19 Mar 2009 5:51 pm

sierra2469alpha wrote:Plenty of better handsets around IMHO.

Anyway - tried to help

All help appreciated s2469a. Now, I am curious as to the above statement... just spent 10 days with a fellow who has an iPhone... and I must say I am impressed with it.

I'd be interested in your opinion as to what the better handsets are... and why... don't want to buy a pig in a poke.

PS: Can get the iPhone from Singtel for either S$0 or S$208 depending on the plan I would select... probably it would cost be S$208... which seems to be quite a discount off the retail price.

sierra2469alpha · Post by **sierra2469alpha** » Thu, 19 Mar 2009 6:15 pm

SE - a few points on iPhone vs other handsets for you (personal corporate info from non-SIN Clients).

1. iPhone is locked into contracts with SP's worldwide, usually, due to the business model Apple uses. There is the unhacked model freely available, but the fact that using an "unblocked" phone still goes back to search for updates from Apple means you have the potential to brick the iPhone.

2. Cut and paste functionality isn't that great - so for starters, if the FFP (Fit-For-Purpose) is OK for you, then go for it. However, as heavy business users, most of our clients have generally relegated the iPhone to a family member or colleague who doesn't need, for example, good MS-Exchange functionality, or PC-to-phone functionality. This is particularly if they are a MS site or an open-source site.

3. Hey - boy do they look cool though!

4. The screen - you need to remember that pretty much all the UI is by touch, so buy up the sticky film - we have one Client who are a large firm of artistic types (natch, they went iPhone beause they all loved the, errrm, "art of the phone" ! Insert lisp as required) but they went through the film screens and had to get three of the actual phone screens repaired under warranty. (NOT and easy task, let me tell you!). Damn arty types need to cut their fingernails!

5. No field-replaceable battery unless you buy a kit over the net - check eBay for those - use search engine of choice.

6. Locked into iTunes unless you have your own MP3's.

So, that being said, preferred models of phones for our highly mobile people:

1. Blackberry BOLD. Ms. C has one and it's an awesome piece of technology. Sure, we have her linked into the Exchange server and it's a pumping enabler for someone who travels. Handset of choice even if you don't need full Exhcange functionality. Great battery life, lightweight, functional.

2. HTC Touch Pro II - I have the TouchPro - and I'm fairly impressed with it, but I really don't think it was worth the money. TouchPro II is a different kettle of SMS's lakefish (when he returns!!!). Nice kit. Worth a look.

3. Symbian handsets aren't great, but then again, the new Sony "made for business" ones are functional, BUT I QUALIFY - none of our people have tested them.

Again, as you know - worth looking at FFP, CBA, and call patterns.

Happy to help out further without giving too much intel out. PM me if you like.

Cheers, Mr. P

ScoobyDoes · Post by **ScoobyDoes** » Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:32 pm

Strong Eagle wrote:
sierra2469alpha wrote:Plenty of better handsets around IMHO.

Anyway - tried to help
All help appreciated s2469a. Now, I am curious as to the above statement... just spent 10 days with a fellow who has an iPhone... and I must say I am impressed with it.

I'd be interested in your opinion as to what the better handsets are... and why... don't want to buy a pig in a poke.

PS: Can get the iPhone from Singtel for either S$0 or S$208 depending on the plan I would select... probably it would cost be S$208... which seems to be quite a discount off the retail price.

My colleague in HK is on his second iPhone, a brand new one now but he got it for nothing from a client......it's the only way he would take one. I've heard nothing but complaints from him about the old one that can't do this and can't do that.

The ones available right now are not much better and new software will not be available until the middle of this year.

durain · Post by **durain** » Fri, 20 Mar 2009 6:24 am

1. iPhone is locked into contracts with SP's worldwide, usually, due to the business model Apple uses. There is the unhacked model freely available, but the fact that using an "unblocked" phone still goes back to search for updates from Apple means you have the potential to brick the iPhone.
unlocking an iPhone is known as jailbreak. they are getting better but at the end of the day, apple has full access to the firmware and can lock it again with firmware update, unless you dont want to update your iPhone.

in france, iPhone are unlock coz it's the french law. or if you wait till 26th march 2009, you can get a unlock 3G iPhone from AT&T! you need to be a AT&T customer and be ready to part US$599/699 for 8/16GB model.

2. Cut and paste functionality isn't that great - so for starters, if the FFP (Fit-For-Purpose) is OK for you, then go for it.
cut and paste is now sorted with version 3.0.

3. Hey - boy do they look cool though!
does look impressive in my pants pocket between my legs.

4. The screen - you need to remember that pretty much all the UI is by touch, so buy up the sticky film - we have one Client who are a large firm of artistic types (natch, they went iPhone beause they all loved the, errrm, "art of the phone" ! Insert lisp as required) but they went through the film screens and had to get three of the actual phone screens repaired under warranty. (NOT and easy task, let me tell you!). Damn arty types need to cut their fingernails!
asian style, leave it in the clear plastic bag or clingfilm it.

5. No field-replaceable battery unless you buy a kit over the net - check eBay for those - use search engine of choice.
cant believe they keep doing it, including their mac air!!!

6. Locked into iTunes unless you have your own MP3's.

So, that being said, preferred models of phones for our highly mobile people:

1. Blackberry BOLD. Ms. C has one and it's an awesome piece of technology. Sure, we have her linked into the Exchange server and it's a pumping enabler for someone who travels. Handset of choice even if you don't need full Exhcange functionality. Great battery life, lightweight, functional.
me blackberry user too. i find it easier to type than on the iPhone. (and not so impressive in my pants pocket)

2. HTC Touch Pro II - I have the TouchPro - and I'm fairly impressed with it, but I really don't think it was worth the money. TouchPro II is a different kettle of SMS's lakefish (when he returns!!!). Nice kit. Worth a look.
never play with the HTC kit. they seems to be getting better and more features.

3. Symbian handsets aren't great, but then again, the new Sony "made for business" ones are functional, BUT I QUALIFY - none of our people have tested them.
symbian series 60 are getting better and works pretty good on the poor's man "iPhone Touch" Nokia 5800.

Again, as you know - worth looking at FFP, CBA, and call patterns.

Happy to help out further without giving too much intel out. PM me if you like.
share-share la.

Cheers, Mr. P

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Tue, 24 Mar 2009 5:42 pm

Otay, boys and girls... do any of you have a comment or two about the Nokia 5800? Appears (from literature and reviews) to be a very nice animal... good size screen, GPS, touchscreen, and much more.

durain · Post by **durain** » Tue, 24 Mar 2009 5:56 pm

the nokia is a darn good alternative to the iPhone if you want music on the go. it has a lot of features like 3G and wifi, so if you can get a good deal on a voice and data plan, the better. the OS and interface might not be as slick as the iPhone but it is not an iPhone. at least you are not playing silly money for ain iPhone. defo worth checking it out.

p/s the iPhone fully unlocked is slightly less than US$800 and US$1000 for 8GB/16GB at the dubai duty free.

admin0 · Post by **admin0** » Tue, 24 Mar 2009 6:08 pm

I am also looking forward for my next phone. Currently I am using the E70 for the past few years. I found that apple is selling unlocked iphone in hongkong: http://store.apple.com/hk/ , due to some law that prevents them to sell it locked. Costs around S$1050 (HK 5400). So for those who want an iphone but don't want to get tied up with singtel 2 years plan, this could be an alternate (singtel has a new month-to-month postpaid plan)

I am looking forward for e75. Nokia 5800 looks good, but I still need a comfortable qwerty (or an iphone)

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Tue, 24 Mar 2009 6:42 pm

And one other alternative that looks good... the Sony Experia X1.

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Tue, 24 Mar 2009 8:42 pm

Offering up several reasonably interesting mobile phone review sites. Gizmodo offers a lot of other stuff, too, and they seem to have realistic reviews.

http://gizmodo.com/ - do a searcyh on 'smartphone' to get lots of info.

http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/home.php - has a very nice phone size compare screen

sierra2469alpha · Post by **sierra2469alpha** » Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:07 am

I'll just bow in again with my usual - is it fit-for-purpose? I know I sound like a broken record! Will the HANDSET give you, with the PLAN you are proposing, what you need? Do you need push-mail, better global roaming plans, dual simcard usage, Assited GPS ror real GPS, got any apps you need to run? Do you need touch screen, or a real keyboard. And that's just a start.

They might all look hot and sexy, but will it do what you want it to do? [no sick comments please!]

Now, that record, it seems to be on repeat !!!!! Oh yay, it's the Seekers again!

HTH, Mr. P

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