iPhone 3GS in Malaysia

According to KLue, a Maxis Communications Berhad press release has confirmed that the official launch date of iPhone 3GS in Malaysia will be on July 31. The press release also gave some details on the pricing of the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3GS as well as the 8GB iPhone 3G. Maxis is now accepting pre-booking on their website for the iPhone 3GS.

This comes after the announcement by Globe Telecom in early July about the July 31st release date of the iPhone 3GS in the Philippines and have started accepting reservations this Wednesday.

The iPhone 3GS went on sale in Hong Kong and Singapore on July 10.

Filed under: iPhone 3GS, Hong Kong, launch, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore

Reserve your iPhone 3GS online

Heads up! Another Globe-iPhone 3GS post.

I’ve just been made aware that Globe’s iPhone 3GS page has been revised. It now shows links to reservation forms the iPhone 3GS. There are three options: existing postpaid subscribers; new postpaid subscribers; or prepaid phonekit. The forms are all identical except under existing subscribers, an account number is required to complete the form.

After the form has been submitted, a message will appear thanking you and telling you to wait 24 to 48 hours for a Globe CSR to contact you.

By the way, you should fill up all the fields. I wasn’t allowed to continue until I’ve filled up “Other Mobile/Landline Number” and “Fax Number”. I just copied my mobile number into those two.

I submitted my form around 1 PM today. I wonder how long it’ll take for them to contact me. I should come up with a list of questions to ask.

Filed under: iPhone 3GS, Globe, Philippines

Apple Store Hong Kong offering unlocked iPhone 3GS

Apple Store Hong Kong is now selling unlocked iPhone 3GS units and only requires a working SIM card for the iPhone 3GS to work in any GSM network, according to MacNN.

The 16GB iPhone 3GS costs HK$5,388 (P33,475) and the 32GB version costs HK$6,288 (P39,230). The 8GB iPhone 3G is also available for only HK$4,488 (P28,020).

The prices are not so bad considering Globe, under their prepaid plan, is offering the 16GB iPhone 3GS for P38,850 and the 32GB model for P42,250. The 8GB iPhone 3G under iPhone plan 399 now costs P32,500 (used to be P25,050). Oh, all of these iPhone units are locked to Globe.

Now, if only Apple could do the same thing with the iPhone as they did with their portable Macs and iPods. That is, instead of a carrier-dependent warranty for the iPhone, make it international warranty.

Filed under: iPhone 3GS, Apple Store, Hong Kong

iPhone 3G more expensive than iPhone 3GS in new Globe pricing scheme

After doing a post about the July 31st iPhone 3GS release here in the Philippines, I had a comment on Plurk ask why the 16GB iPhone 3G is more expensive than the 16GB iPhone 3GS.

My first reaction was, “What 16GB iPhone 3G?”

Thinking that my Plurk friend somehow got confused with the iPhone models and pricing, I explained that the 16GB iPhone 3G has been discontinued and only the 8GB iPhone 3G, and the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3GS will be made available. I based this reply on what Phil Schiller said during the Worldwide Developer Conference held last June 8, 2009.

However, a friend told me that there was something weird with Globe’s iPhone pricing. He mentioned that the question raised was valid. He said that according to Globe’s website, the 16GB iPhone 3G was a matter of fact more expensive than the 16GB iPhone 3GS.

What the…?

Return of the dead

Perplexed, I re-visited the Globe’s iPhone plan webpage. I was amazed to find that Globe has made some changes. I should’ve checked that webpage before posting or at least took the time to re-visit that webpage when the question was first raised.

Globe did change their iPhone plan pricing. I don’t have a screenshot of the first iPhone plan with the two iPhone 3GS models and the 8GB iPhone. Fortunately, this website does have a picture of the original iPhone plan and I used that for comparison.

Mind you, the iPhone 3GS unit prices are still the same, from plan 399 up to plan 4999.

What’s changed is the pricing of the 8GB unit and the addition of the 16GB iPhone 3G model.

Say what?!?

Under the new pricing scheme, the 8GB iPhone is now pricier. Using Plan 399 as the basis for comparison, the price of the 8GB iPhone rose from P25,050 to P32,500, or an increase of P7,450. That puts the 8GB iPhone P1,850 more expensive than the 16GB iPhone 3GS.

Perplexing? That’s not all.

Globe, for reasons unknown, has thrown the 16GB iPhone 3G back into the mix, and now costs P7,800 more than the 16GB iPhone 3GS and P2,200 more than the 32GB iPhone 3GS.

Out with the old, in with the old

What happened here? Lyle speculated that maybe someone screwed while updating Globe’s iPhone webpage. He might be on to something there because when I checked the old iPhone 3G page it shows the exact pricing scheme for the 8Gb and 16GB iPhone 3G units on the updated iPhone 3GS page. Maybe somebody got careless with copy and paste.

However, if this wasn’t a mistake, why in the world would Globe re-introduce an otherwise discontinued product and also increase the price of the supposedly cheapest iPhone? This messes up Apple’s plan for world domination with the “$99 iPhone” (we really don’t have a “$99 iPhone” here. Under the old plan, it’s either a $158 iPhone [plan 1599] or a free iPhone [plan 2199]).

Globe might be deliberately jacking up the prices on iPhone 3G units to sell more iPhone 3GS phones. Maybe there’s some sort of incentive from Apple. Or they figured that they can earn more profit by selling more iPhone 3GS than iPhone 3G.

Then again, maybe someone did make a mistake and that a correction will soon me made before July 15 (when Globe will start accepting reservations) or before July 31. I hope so. If not, I’m sure hope Apple hears about this.

Filed under: iPhone, iPhone 3GS, Globe, Philippines

Thousands line up for iPhone 3GS Singapore launch

MacNN reported that last Friday’s launch of the iPhone 3GS in Singapore attracted a huge crowd. It was estimated that at least 3,000 eager customers gathered around SingTel’s corporate headquarters. SingTel created a more festive atmosphere by featuring fireworks and a confetti drop.

SingTel expects large crowds to persist for several days.

I wonder if Globe is planning an event for the iPhone 3GS release on July 31.

By the way, Globe will start accepting reservations for the iPhone 3GS on July 15.

Filed under: iPhone 3GS, launch, Singapore

Globe Telecom announces the coming of iPhone 3GS

Globe Telecom, Apple’s official carrier of the iPhone in the Philippines, has announced in their website that the iPhone 3GS will hit the shores on July 31. The previous model iPhone, the iPhone 3G, was launched here on August 22, 2008.

Plans

The iPhone 3GS can be availed through a postpaid plan or a prepaid kit. For postpaid plans, a customer may choose between the regular postpaid plans (under GPlan or GFlex) or an iPhone plan.

The main difference between the iPhone plan and the regular postpaid plan is the inclusion of free mobile internet in the iPhone plan. Though regular postpaid plan subscribers can use Globe’s cellular network to access the internet via EDGE, 3G or 3.5G, the cost of access will be added on top of the monthly subscription fee under GPlan or deducted accordingly under GFlex.

Globe’s iPhone plan offers between 20 to 100 hours (or between 100 to 600MB) of free mobile internet access per month. The number of allocated hours or megabytes depends on the monthly service fee. The included data access under this plan comes at a price: the number of free call minutes or SMS is lesser as compared to regular postpaid plans. The customer, by the way, can choose between time-based or kilobyte-based charging.

iPhone plan subscribers also has access to Globe’s Wi-Fi network, Globe WIZ, but it depends on which iPhone plan the customer is subscribed to.

iPhone plans and postpaid plans require a 2-year contract.

Costs

Globe’s iPhone plan starts at ₱399 (~$8) per month and requires a cash-out of ₱30,650 (~$640) for the 16GB iPhone 3GS and ₱36,250 (~$750) for the 32GB iPhone 3GS. The 8GB iPhone 3G is available under this plan for  ₱25,050 (~$520).

For those interested in getting the iPhone 3GS for ‘free’ they have to pay ₱3299 (~$68) per month for the 16GB version, and ₱3999 (~$83) per month for the 32GB version. To get the 8GB iPhone 3G for ‘free’, a customer must pay ₱2199 (~$46) per month.

Visit Globe’s website for more details on their iPhone plans or regular postpaid plans for the iPhone 3GS.

Prepaid Kit

A prepaid iPhone 3GS kit is also available for those not interested in subscribing to a plan. The cost is ₱38,850 (~$800) for the 16GB model and ₱42,250 (~$880) for the 32GB model. No details yet on what’s included in the prepaid kit.

The iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS are sim-locked to Globe. To date I have no idea if Globe does unlocking of units under certain conditions like some other carriers abroad do.

Reservations accepted

Globe will start accepting reservations for the iPhone 3GS on July 15, either by calling their hotline or by visiting any of their Globe Business Centers.

If I do go ahead and get myself the 16GB iPhone 3GS, I might go with the plan 899. My brother pointed out to me that plan 899 is the sweet spot based on the free number of call minutes, SMS and mobile internet hours per month. The plan above that costs too much.

I did a comparison among the different postpaid plans (including prepaid) and plan 899 offers the best bang for the buck. Based on my usage, that is.

I’m still on the fence; I’m not sure if I’m going to get the iPhone 3GS when it comes out July 31.

We’ll just have to wait and see.

Filed under: Apple, Inc., iPhone 3GS, Globe, launch, Philippines

It works! The Apple In-Ear works with the iPhone 3GS

A month after the Apple In-Ear with Remote and Mic came out, I’ve thought of getting it. I considered it as my most ideal set of headphones. I prefer in-ear over regular earphones because it helps block most of the environmental noise i hear when I’m out and about. With regular earphones I have to crank up the volume when I’m listening to podcasts or audiobooks, and that’s not good for my already damaged ears.

The remote lets me control playback and volume while keeping the 2G iPod touch in my pants pocket. The mic is an added plus: it’ll give me the chance to play with iPhone/iPod touch apps that requires a microphone.

But there was a problem. Back when the Apple In-Ear with Remote and Mic came out, Apple indicated that it only worked with the latest iPod touch (second generation) and not with the iPhone 3G. That got me worried because I was already planning my move to the next generation iPhone and I wasn’t sure that the Apple In-Ear was going to work with it. (In retrospect, It was foolish of me to think that Apple would actually make a new product that won’t compatible with an already existing product. Duh me.)

I was going to sell my iPod touch and mobile phone to help offset the cost but keep the In-Ear and use it with the iPhone.

Since I wasn’t sure I decided not to get the Apple In-Ear with Remote and Mic. I didn’t want to take the risk. I did find a Sony MDR-EX85LP at Gaisano Mall. It worked well enough and it was a steal when I got it (at least I think it was).

A few months later, this came out:

I’ve checked out the specs, watched the WWDC ’09 keynote, read all the reviews, and looked at the videos and photos taken with the iPhone 3GS. I like the iPhone 3GS. I think it has most of the things that I need from a smartphone. Since the release of the iPhone 3GS wasn’t simultaneous in all 80 plus countries, I have to wait. During the two week wait, I had a nagging feeling that I was forgetting something.

It was only last night that a thought struck me and I decided to check it out on Apple’s Online Store.

Lo and behold!

I have confirmation that the Apple In-Ear with Remote and Mic will work with the iPhone 3GS.

Joy! I just might get the in-ear after all.

Still, I have to wait for the announcement from Globe about the iPhone 3GS. Apple indicated during the WWDC ’09 keynote that the new iPhone will hit the Philippines (plus 30 other countries) by July.

So, there’s the waiting, and of course, there’s this:

Ack! The price of geekery.

Filed under: iPhone 3GS, headphone