Which mobile phone network provider

[sunshineband]

Hi

New to Singapore and after some advice about which mobile phone provider to use?
Do you just buy the network plan, and have to provide your own phone ( as in Hong Kong) or are there deals where you get a free/discounted phone when you sign up to a network provider (as in the UK)?
Who are the key players in this market, so that I can research what they have to offer.

Any help much appreciated!

[sundaymorningstaple]

almost all plans in Singapore have free or discounted phones which range from very attractive to basic (which I like). The contracts are usually for 12 or 24 months and when you renew (not a requirement) you can usually get a new discounted phone as well.

[sunshineband]

Thanks. And who are the key netwprk providers?

[rhino]

There are three:

Starhub
Singtel
M1

Some have features that are better than others - e.g. Starhub has a discounted international calling prefix, and free calls to some Asian countries...

[sundaymorningstaple]

Click on my link in my signature line for mobile providers.....

[sunshineband]

Thanks, That's great! V helpful!

[RimBlock]

I have been looking around for a new phone here and trying to get to grips with all the promotions.

My SE900i is starting to get on my nerves at the moment as the headphones keep popping out and the phone switches to speaker when that happens like on a crowded train. Whilst I could replace them, the charger I have also seems a bit dodgy sometimes so I was looking at a new phone.

My wife has contracts with all three main providers (Singtel for her, M1 for our son which has now become mine, Starhub for her mother). I have discussed consolidating them to one provider but she is stubbern .

Looking at most of the providers the phone I would like (Nokia N95) is around S$768 with a two year contract and S$200 trade in (trade in value given from M1 for my current mobile is S$300).

Just out of interest I looked at my old UK provider and noticed that without trade in, that model of phone was almost the same price with a 18 month contract (GBP 249.99 = S$749.97).

It seems that Nokia phones are very expensive (i.e. no modification on price due to the local market) in Singapore. I have not checked any other models so cannot comment.

So I now have to try and decypher all the promotions and work out the cheapest way (man they give me a headache).

What I did do when coming visiting before I moved here for good was get a sim card from 7eleven (most didn't have them but the one in Holland Village seemed to have a full stock). This was a pay as you go card and it was fine for a short term solution.

Cheers
RB

[sundaymorningstaple]

RimBlock,

It doesn't surprise me that the Nokia prices here and in the UK are nearly the same. It would suprise me if they were cheaper here as Nokia is from a European Company in the first place.

They always have been the favoured models up until a few years ago when Sony Ericsson & Motorola and to a lesser extent Seimens and LG started making inroads (especially since Nokia's local customer service has on occasion taken a beating here).

[RimBlock]

It doesn't surprise me that the Nokia prices here and in the UK are nearly the same. It would suprise me if they were cheaper here as Nokia is from a European Company in the first place.

Yep, sort of agreed. bearing in mind that UK import duty and VAT (GST in Sing) are very high compared to Singapore and I would have thought this would have offset at least part of the distribution costs. What is not so good is the likes of LG, SE and Samsung also charging comparative prices here compared to the UK. They must be or Nokia would not stand a chance with its very high pricing compared to the other brands.

Whilst Nokia could claim the distance for transport to the Singapore market, what excuse can Samsung come up with. Surely the cost of distribution cannot be the same for both the UK and Singapore from Korea unless all makes of mobiles are now made in China .

My wife is a die hard Nokia fan. I do not mind them but do not find them quite as stylish as they used to be. They are also very 'common' .

I like my SE phone for the most part but the connector for the headphones is just too insecure. I use it to listen to music for my trips in and out of the City everyday and it is very irritating that one slight nudge in the MRT and the music comes blasting out. When it is Eminem using his interesting terms of endearment towards ladies and others he doesn't quite get on with it can get a few looks. This is doubly true as plugging in the headphone connector takes a second or two to register and then pops out and will not stay in. I have now taken to just turning off the music if the headphone connector pops out.

Anyway, didn't mean to take over the tread with my moanings about SE headphone connectors .

Cheers
RB