iPhone 3G Bangkok Update: Winner’s The Winner
Just a short iPhone 3G update concerning Bangkok & Thailand. All right, I hear you. By now, you say, everybody has an iPhone and there’s the promising Blackberry Storm to arrive and the Nokia N97. But then again, no other phone offers the possibilities, functionalities and the platform as does the iPhone. Period.
And as you may know as well, there’s still no proper unlock for the 3G iPhones. Except if you buy a factory-unlocked one. They were hard to get. Now Winner Telecom on the 4th floor of Maboonkrong MBK has them. The Hong Kong version. Just did a beautifully simple upgrade from firmware 2.1 to 2.2.
The first Hong Kong iPhone 3G @ 16GB they had sold for 59,000 baht. Now they go for less than 30,000 baht. Just be nice to the beautiful girl at the counter – yes, even her English is perfect. I’d say, that’s a sure go if you hesitated so far … with the phone.
By the way, Winner gets the first batch of Blackberry Storms. They’re not sure yet about the unlock, but the guys at Winner conquered every phone so far. And yes, the even got the Google G1 in stock with Google’s Android mobile operating system. Unlocked. For some 20,000 baht ++.
If in the market for an iPhone 3G, you could still though wait for the official Thai release over at True. Just called them up, they have no clue when the phone will arrive. And it seems like a safe bet that True’s iPhone will be more expensive than Winner’s. Ok, True offers proper warranty and support.
As does Winner.
What a boring topic for phone luddites, though we did see a $99 “I” phone 4GB 3G (GEE!!!) at Walmart, kinda takes the wind out of the poser’s sails …
http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2008/12/08/apple-iphone-3g-for-99-at-walmart/
It’s not confirmed that the iPhone will sell at Walmart for $99.
It would cannibalize their sales of iPods.
http://blogs.wsj.com/biztech/2008/12/11/the-iphone-may-come-to-wal-mart-but-likely-not-for-99/
They sell the copy phones in Laos just over the border from Nong Khai very cheap, about 4,000 baht.
Same same Nokia 3G, no warranty, but for that price who cares. I think they’re called Nokla.
Maybe they have the iPhone as well.
Boring topic yes, but let’s not forget, while Nokia, Palm (outch!), Blackberry and such built already thousands of phones, Apple managed to basically top the smartphone market with one single phone. You may be a contrarian, but there’s no denial, filled with sensors and bright ideas, that iPhone is a smasher. Or why does basically every schoolboy and schoolgirl in Bangkok have an iPhone by now? Discernement and taste, stupid.
No worries whoopla, love the “I”phone! And maybe the discernment side blow was intended somewhat sarcastically …
Doing the math forced me to finally break down, as this phone is, simple put, the best mobile computing platform on the market.
I went through the rest – but Windows Mobile? Njet. A Nokia again? They’re still not ready yet, and with the old E61 I had to use three different browsers (Opera, Opera Mini, built in) just to read basic webpages on the go.
Now? Am fully mobile. Just to mention the other benefits of these amazing apps – yes, I only download free ones.
A no-brainer if do the math.
BangkokDan
You can pre-register the iPhone via TRUE here:
http://www.truemove.com/iphone/tha/index.htm
Check out the price plan here:
http://www.macdd.com/macddv3/index.php/all-news-update/35-news-update/470-Apple-OSX.html
If anyone can translate the highlights, or has further info, please advise.
Just need a new phone, so might as well go for this new iPhone with 3G.
3G is expected to cover Thailand by mid-‘09? Will it be everywhere in Thailand? Any idea?
Thanks Andy, good find.
Here’s an English version of TRUE’s data plans and contracts.
With the basic plan it looks like you get a “good” price for a 16GB @ 10,499 baht, but you have to sign up for a two year contract. And you’ll get a TRUE-locked device. So not possible to use the device abroad with another SIM card – if you want to avoid exorbitant roaming fees.
And you’d probably have to go for the most expensive data plan with unlimited data transfer – setting you back 2,099 baht/month = 50,376 baht for two years.
Winner’s gray Hong Kong iPhone may still be a better deal, as you get a truly unlocked device. And unlimited data with AIS for instance is 999 baht/month. It’s EDGE, but speed is not too shabby @ roughly 150 kbps.
As far as 3G coverage in Thailand goes, they announce it since years and made some basic inroads. I wouldn’t hold my breath that 3G is ready anytime soon.
BangkokDan
Thanks for the update.
Maybe a solution for above mentioned costs/points:
- Abroad bring a second low-cost phone along and get a prepaid local number for your stay and let your main number send you an SMS if you receive a call.
- Take the 8GB and a lower package, that’ll do for most I guess.
- TRUE also uses GPRS/EDGE by the way.
Depends on each person’s preferences I guess.
Guess I will go for TRUE’s offer, as I need a phone right now (old one got stolen)!
Cheers mate
Saw that one whoopla, read it in a state of puzzled shame and hoped nobody else would see it.
There are 18 fart related apps in the iPhone App Store, but Apple ejects iBoobs?!
BangkokDan
Speaking in tongues on iPhone: a polyglot’s take on languages on iPhone:
http://stujay.blogspot.com/2009/01/those-iphone-developers-might-be.html