Even though the new 3G iPhone will sell for quite cheap in the US (US$199 and US$299 for the 8GB and 16GB models respectively), I did not expect the prices in Singapore to fall as low. Yesterday’s Sunday Times carried an article that put the initial iPhone price in Singapore between S$500 and S$1000 (presumably with contract). Not cheap. Considering other premium phones like, say, the Nokia N95 8GB was launched at S$798 (I think?). The initial iPhone selling price may be slightly marked up because it is sold only by SingTel. What happens when the other telcos start carrying the iPhone?
Yes, the good news is that eventually all the three telcos here, SingTel, M1 and Starhub, will be selling the 3G iPhone. When that happens, competition will definitely drive the prices down. You can already see the heat of competition the day that true number portability came into effect. For example, SingTel was giving away free MacBook Airs (with hefty contracts of course).
Well, all these competition is good for consumers.
Update (8 July 2008): Optus has announced pricing for the iPhone in Ausralia. Since Optus is a subsidiary of SingTel, the pricing there could provide some indication of SingTel’s strategy in Singapore.
Hmm.. But Jobs said that prices all over the world would not be above US$199 for 8G and US$299 for 16G in the corresponding local currencies..
I am thinking more of S$299 for 8G with like a 3 yr contract.
Haha I suppose you could be right. I didn’t realize he said that… and I guess neither did the person the Sunday Times consulted.
Its not the phone value that matters but the plan value. If Singtel is giving away the phone with power value plans that have to pay >S$100 monthly(for 2-3years!), thats gonna be a headache.
though iphone 3g realese in singtel only . i believe singtel should not had set the price too high as in us only cost about $199 for the 8g . when converted to sgd is about $300 plus . is like the apple has lowered the price n singtel raising the price . not fair to the singaporeans !!! singtel is lucky to be the 1st of the 3 to luanch iphone 3g ! my god ! $1000plus for an iphone ! thats crap ! lets pray hard for a LOWEST price ! =) god bless !!!
Singtel’s price point is critical. If it’s set too high (i.e. SGD 1000), most consumers will wait for Starhub and M1 to launch the iphone. A better strategy will be to price it reasonably (SGD 300) and tie it with a mid tier 2 years contract. Existing Starhub and M1 users will be more tempted to convert to Singtel, hence, capturing the market share for at least the next 2 years while everyone wait for the next “big thing”.
Singtel could also launch it high and slash the prices just before its competitors launch the product, just to capture the hardcore iphone fans first. Don’t think that’s effective because consumer are less likely to switch then given that the novelty has worn off and there is the hassle of switching operators.
I believe they are not decided on the pricing plans, hence, coming out with the idea to reserve the iphone without disclosing the price to “test” the market sentiments.
Oh, there is another strategy and I think this is very likely after I read the Optus pricing…..:( Singtel can collaborate with M1 and Starhub and set the pricing extremely high. 🙁 Singapore is a small market so Steve Job won’t be bothered with the small demand….probably a rounding error to the US and Europe market.
the prices were already released. too darn expensive in my opinion. 8gb costs 700 while the 16gb costs 850 both on 2yr iOnePlus plans. way higher than the expected 300. i know i’m not gonna get mine soon
hahaha….. let them control the market
Why not use China iPhone….. so cheap, may be it is not 3G but has most of the features of iPhone and 10 times cheaper…. Thanks China for looking at poor people!
I love Iphone and always wanted to be a part of buying it. Thanks to JObs for selling it. By the way what is an iphone? er… I am still confused…
in fact, i love iPhone so much and i am also crazy it. In US the price is $199 for 8G and $299 for 16G. i love that prices. But its sure we cannot get iPhone with that prices in SG. its sure but i actually dont know why? shippment? as for me, i hoped the iphone not to hot-prize and not different so much price in US but it is in vain. i hear that the iphone in SG is S$1200 and S$1300 respectively! now i m praying to decrease the price in a not long time……..haha ,so funny!
My colleague has just bought 8GB for S$750 yesterday in Singapore (without plan). I am not sure what is happening? Are the prices coming down ? Will they come down more or is it a good time to buy it ?
Hello, May i enquire where did your colleague buy the phone from?
hi there..
may i know where did ur friend buy the phone please??
thanks a lot!
Good question Lila! I called, Singtel don’t sell iphone without contract. Where can we get it without contract? and any problems if buy from other country say US?
in indonesia, telkom as the one and only iphone 3G reseller sel it 10 billion rupiahs. it’s about US $ 900++.
it’s crazy…
i wanna ask how to buy iPhone in singapore without a contract?
yeah,, iPhone in indonesia is really2 expensive..huh..
replay it to my email please reeenn.93@hotmail.com
may i know where to buy the iphone in singapore without contract for $750?
Can i know what is the prices of iphone
sell in Singapore …..
because Malaysia too expensive ….
please reply in my mail
miketoh08@gmail.com
Hi there, i am interested on the iphone $750 as well, May i know whr to get it,
if possible drop me an email of that place thank
g.accesspoint@gmail.com
Hey, i am also interested on the $750 iphone.
If anyone has any sources where I can get it drop me an email at
dennis.kzk@gmail.com
Thanks~
Hi, I have 3 iphones I brought in USA. I will sell all 3 at reasonable price/offer over $500SGD. Please contact me for details, where to meet etc. Offer closes 10 july ( don’t want 100000 emails pls
is the iphone still around ???
Hi seanna, is the phone still available?
hey seanna…
it’s kind of late. sorry. but i have this stupid question, is the iphone still available?? if so, could u mail me the details? thanks.. really hope u still have one…. (fingers crossed)
thx
opps…seanna88@yahoo.com…sorry
hi, im interested in iphone 3GS.
any idea where to get it at a cheaper price.
drop me an email. thanks.=))
hi beep26,
I’m getting a iPhone 3GS 32GB next monday from Singtel.
I found someone buying in iPhone at $1300. email me at shawnkuek@gmail.com if you can offer higher. =)
Hi,
i selling iphone 32GB 3GS, warrantly start from the day u pay me, from singtel
$1000, i signing the contract 2 yr
Hi, is the iphone still available?
my email: koon3@discuz.org
Hey there,
Keenly interested in getting the iphone 3Gs at $750 too. Can email me the details?
Thanks!
oceanblue_gal1990@hotmail.com
May I know where to buy a 3G, 8GB iphone with the real cost? Thanks much ^^
my email: mywife@viettel.vn
hi i’m interested in buying iPhone as well. can also email me if y’all know where to get just the iPhone without contract with reasonable price in Singapore.. ^^
amethyst_pearl@hotmail.com
New Iphone for sale .At the price of 1299 .Way to cheap la . Pls call sean at 93295655 .
I am lowering the price to 1150 singapore dollars .For interested buyers , please call sean at 93295655 .Please support me
Only 1150 dollars for a Iphone 3gs 32gb quite cheap .Pls call louis at 97654123 .
Cheap i phone 3G just $500 ( no contract) please call 81696937, meet and pay. Thanks