iPhone 5 is now Available in Singapore!

The iPhone 5 was launched at the US of A on the 12 September 2012. Despite all the hype and disappointment created by Apple, there were also a few series of comparison and video bashing created by other big names in the mobile phone industry. It was also being announced that Singapore will be the first Asian country to have the opportunity to experience the iPhone 5 from the major telco in the island starting 21st of September, which was yesterday. If you have an iPhone 5, do let me know your experience or do you even feel that it's a totally different phone other than just getting a height extension?

Below is the news report from Channel News Asia:-

While the buzz is on for the launch of Apple's iPhone 5 in Singapore, some analysts do not see much of that translating into stronger bottom lines for the three telcos this year. That is because of higher subsidies they will incur for the new iPhone.

With tiered data pricing that reduce free data bundles, some analysts said this could also push subscribers to watch their data usage initially. Still, the three telcos -- SingTel, Starhub and M1 -- have been heavily marketing the new iPhone 5. SingTel said it expects to sell more than 10,000 units of the iPhone 5 during its launch at the Marina Bay Sands.

The telco opted for pre-registration and set up 55 transaction booths at MBS to avoid long queues at its stores. It will start selling the phone on Saturday in its shops islandwide to those who did not get appointment slots at MBS and will sell to the rest of the public by Sunday, according to a SingTel spokesperson.

To cater to eager customers, StarHub also set aside some 40 outlets for the iPhone 5 launch. It has also arranged 10 of its shops as a collection point for customers who reserved the iPhone 5.

Mr Chan Kin Hung, head of marketing & products at StarHub, said 30 of its authorised dealers will start selling the iPhone 5 to those without reservations beginning on Friday and at its StarHub Shops from September 23.

M1 also had its launch event at its flagship store in Paragon at Orchard Road, and said all its 13 shops and five selected exclusive dealers started serving iPhone 5 customers from 8am on Friday.

Analysts said that while the new iPhone 5 will see a number of upgraders and switchers, its stronger impact will likely be seen only in 2013, when the use of the 4G network becomes more widespread.

Data usage is expected to increase over the next couple of years as subscribers switch to tiered data plans, which should drive telcos' margins in the longer term.

Liu Jinshu, deputy lead analyst with SIAS Research, said: "There may be some structural improvements in earnings and revenue. But I don't expect anything exciting at this point in time. They are, after all, subsidising these phones. I would say their bread and butter still comes from phone usage, data usage.

Photos credit to Cnet Asia.

Source from Channel News Asia.

I'm sure it's gonna be a very troublesome procedure for current users who already have a normal sim card or a micro sim to convert their sim card into nano sim to fit into the iPhone 5. Basically you no longer can use your old iPhone docking devices, old charger cables, phone casing, cover, housing or whatsoever from the previous iPhone. I can see that potentially iPhone 5 only meant on new users who had never own any iPhone. Alternately, they can now have a wider choice of smartphone compared to the very first release of iPhone back in 2007. 

Do drop in your comments or maybe your very personal thoughts about the new iPhone 5.

.: Peace Out :.