Switching prepaid sim card to postpaid

[carlsum1986]

Hi,
Would like to thank anyone in advance for the info they share.
I am currently on Singtel's Hi card or prepaid sim card.
I am looking at converting my current number to a postpaid number and signing up for one of those iphone plans while keeping my current number. What are the costs involved?Is it even possible to convert a prepaid number to a post paid number?

[nakatago]

Hi,
Would like to thank anyone in advance for the info they share.
I am currently on Singtel's Hi card or prepaid sim card.
I am looking at converting my current number to a postpaid number and signing up for one of those iphone plans while keeping my current number. What are the costs involved?Is it even possible to convert a prepaid number to a post paid number?

For now, I think the only way is to just sign up for a new plan and forget about the prepaid card.

Number porting, i.e. keeping your number, I think only works if you switch from prepaid to prepaid or plan to plan across carriers. All three have the same FAQ for number porting. Starhub, for instance, told me that prepaid to plan porting is not possible (however, what I want is prepaid to prepaid anyway which will only cost me the value of the new sim card which is 8 or 15 bucks inclusive of top-up). There is no charge for the porting itself. This is in the Starhub site. I'm guessing it's the same case for Singtel (no prepaid to plan porting) but you can try giving them a call.

EDIT: From what I've found online, they say that all prepaid accounts are on a different system from those on plan, hence prepaid to plan porting is not possible. Or so they say.

[carlsum1986]

oh well guess then i need a new number if i am to go on the iphone plans...sigh

[nakatago]

oh well guess then i need a new number if i am to go on the iphone plans...sigh

personally, i'm switching to starhub prepaid because singtel prepaid has a pathetic data connection. and i won't be using a phone's data connection that much to warrant a plan. these two have those "128" card top-ups going on where you get $100 value for local and $28 for international (good for 50 days). Data usage is charged on the $100 value. Based on my consumption patterns, that's practically unlimited for 50 days. for me, a data plan is not needed and is more expensive; prepaid is more than enough.

just saying this is an option (for anybody else reading this thread) and you can get a smartphone--not just the iphone--that is not locked to a carrier.

[carteki]

It is possible to keep your Singtel prepaid number when you convert to Post-paid EXCEPT if you're moving to a corporate account - well that is my experience, but another colleague who arrived 1 year before me was able to keep her original number - go figure - guess it is the luck of the draw.

[argiope]

oh well guess then i need a new number if i am to go on the iphone plans...sigh

personally, i'm switching to starhub prepaid because singtel prepaid has a pathetic data connection. and i won't be using a phone's data connection that much to warrant a plan. these two have those "128" card top-ups going on where you get $100 value for local and $28 for international (good for 50 days). Data usage is charged on the $100 value. Based on my consumption patterns, that's practically unlimited for 50 days. for me, a data plan is not needed and is more expensive; prepaid is more than enough.

just saying this is an option (for anybody else reading this thread) and you can get a smartphone--not just the iphone--that is not locked to a carrier.

I'm on Starhub prepaid and just to share, the $28 Happy top-up doesn't cater for MMS and data connectivity.

In order to go online/send MMS via your prepaid SIM, you ought to purchase the regular $18 or $38 top-ups or the MaxMobile Prepaid thingy which i'm unsure of the details. And the credit runs out reallyyyy fast.

A tip for those who don't know: Don't buy the top-up cards from 7-11 or the telco's official websites as they sell in regular price. You may go to some small stalls or Indian bookstore for discounted cards. I buy my $28 card for $25.20 at a store in Aljunied station. You might think that the saving is not much but still, every cent counts.

[nakatago]

I'm on Starhub prepaid and just to share, the $28 Happy top-up doesn't cater for MMS and data connectivity.

In order to go online/send MMS via your prepaid SIM, you ought to purchase the regular $18 or $38 top-ups or the MaxMobile Prepaid thingy which i'm unsure of the details. And the credit runs out reallyyyy fast.

A tip for those who don't know: Don't buy the top-up cards from 7-11 or the telco's official websites as they sell in regular price. You may go to some small stalls or Indian bookstore for discounted cards. I buy my $28 card for $25.20 at a store in Aljunied station. You might think that the saving is not much but still, every cent counts.

true that credit may run out really fast but the prepaid data rates are comparable to the rest of the world (i.e. they make it expensive so that they'd entice you to get a plan). like i said before, it depends on your usage patterns. if you're a heavy user, you might as well get a plan but if, like me, you'd only use it for the occasional google map or quick email/IM check/look-up, prepaid should be good enough.

[Giki]

oh well guess then i need a new number if i am to go on the iphone plans...sigh

personally, i'm switching to starhub prepaid because singtel prepaid has a pathetic data connection. and i won't be using a phone's data connection that much to warrant a plan. these two have those "128" card top-ups going on where you get $100 value for local and $28 for international (good for 50 days). Data usage is charged on the $100 value. Based on my consumption patterns, that's practically unlimited for 50 days. for me, a data plan is not needed and is more expensive; prepaid is more than enough.

just saying this is an option (for anybody else reading this thread) and you can get a smartphone--not just the iphone--that is not locked to a carrier.

well,
is data usage really charged on the $100 value?
cause it says:"Usage charges for other services will continue to be deducted from your card's main balance and this may include the charges relating to the use of the following services: roaming, downloads, GPRS, MMS, activation and daily charges for on-demand FREE Incoming Calls, StarHub Menu, Gee! Info Updates, Service 100 Directory Enquiry service etc." at http://www.starhub.com/support/mobile/f ... pcard.html

[lowlyexpat]

just to share, my husband had a singtel prepaid sim, and wanted to use a blackberry phone, which requires 3G. His original prepaid did not have 3G, so he asked Singtel people to upgrade his sim to 3G. as he wanted to keep his phone number. they said it could not be done.

after reading websites of singtel and starhub, he learned that porting of mobile number from provider to provider is possible. Since singtel won't upgrade his sim card, to keep his number and get 3G, he would have to port to starhub sim that has 3G, and then, if he still prefers singtel, port back to Singtel!

At least that's a good plan in theory. So he went to starhub stores to ask for porting. First, they said that could only be done in four specific branches. When he got to one, the first staff he asked said it could not be done. He went to another staff, knowing what he read on the web, and they gave him a number to line up to a customer service guy. When he got to the customer service guy, he was told to go to the cashier to buy a starhub sim and to request for porting. no form needed. He did that and got his new sim. He was ok that it would take one day for them to set it up. He is now waiting for that moment.

So in sum, telecom services in Singapore is still not as customer oriented as developing countries like Philippines or Indonesia, let along Hong Kong. Expect to hear a lot of 'it can't be done' before you get proper service.

[ecureilx]

So in sum, telecom services in Singapore is still not as customer oriented as developing countries like Philippines or Indonesia, let along Hong Kong. Expect to hear a lot of 'it can't be done' before you get proper service.

Well, it hasn't been a day, so I am waiting for Starhub to shockingly reply that pre-paid numbers can't be ported over to post-paid ..







Shockingly, my bet is that Singtel is right .. and you should stop dissing Singtel (not that they are in my Christmas invite list, due to many other drama, but the others dont' fare much better, and comparing to the region, all three are much better .. ... but .... but I sometimes get a bit amused when people say "IN ASIA, YOU MUST BE FIRM AND DEMAND TO GET WHAT YOU NEED .. " as if you need people to be bullied)

[ecureilx]

personally, i'm switching to starhub prepaid because singtel prepaid has a pathetic data connection.

About Data, I have a Starhub Data SIM, which I am using on a 3G router, and at times, my laptop, my Nokia phone are both simultaneously accessing internet, and no lag

I got a 3G Singtel SIM with the Samsung Galaxy and realised that Youtube always is slow .. and on a whim, I hooked my Samsung to the Starhub 3G router, and it is extremely fast ..

Seems Singtel Data, though both show full signal, is slower than Starhub Data plan .. me thinks Singtel is still on 7 MB while Starhub is on 21 MB (the Starhub sim came with an Ipad)

[nakatago]

personally, i'm switching to starhub prepaid because singtel prepaid has a pathetic data connection.

About Data, I have a Starhub Data SIM, which I am using on a 3G router, and at times, my laptop, my Nokia phone are both simultaneously accessing internet, and no lag

I got a 3G Singtel SIM with the Samsung Galaxy and realised that Youtube always is slow .. and on a whim, I hooked my Samsung to the Starhub 3G router, and it is extremely fast ..

Seems Singtel Data, though both show full signal, is slower than Starhub Data plan .. me thinks Singtel is still on 7 MB while Starhub is on 21 MB (the Starhub sim came with an Ipad)

It's not the number of bars but the quality of the infrastructure. Not the size of the ship, but the motion of the ocean. The angle of the dangle.


(Pre-emptive retort)

That's what she said!

[ecureilx]

It's not the number of bars but the quality of the infrastructure. Not the size of the ship, but the motion of the ocean. The angle of the dangle.


(Pre-emptive retort)

That's what she said!

You mean i must change my dongle now ???

[ecureilx]

j
So in sum, telecom services in Singapore is still not as customer oriented as developing countries like Philippines or Indonesia, let along Hong Kong. Expect to hear a lot of 'it can't be done' before you get proper service.

So in sum, did your husband manage to be firm and make the Conversion of Pre-paid to Post-Paid ?? Your silence is deafening ma'am ..






PS: Don't be offended .. I am very excited to know that somebody may have cracked the code ..

[bobypf]

I also wanted to convert my pre-paid starhub green number to a post-paid one. I asked them for this in one of their office but they said "CANNOT". Cannot my ass though, they just don't want to do it. How can you transfer your number to another operator and not to be able to switch to a regular post paid plan within the same operator? This is ridiculous! I'm sure there's only one checkbox in their system they have to click on. But they just don't want. They want you to buy their super expensive iPhones with a plan and to have sex with you for 2 years.