SINGAPORE phone users will finally be able to get their hands on the iPhone after Singapore Telecommunications clinched a deal with the gadget's maker Apple to launch it here later this year.

The telecommunications company confirmed market rumours that it had secured the deal via a terse, one-line media release on Monday, announcing the deal, without saying when this would happen or details on pricing. A spokesman also declined to give further details.

Analysts have always said that of Singapore's three operators, SingTel was best-placed - and would also benefit the most - to secure such a deal to distribute the device that Time Magazine hailed as device of the year for 2007.

This was because of SingTel's links with other regional telcos like India's Bharti Airtel and Australia's Optus.

However, when news broke last week that Vodafone had secured the rights to sell the device in India and Australia, it unleashed market talk that SingTel was now out of the race for the device - although this has since proven unfounded.

They said this was because SingTel's remaining markets were either small like Singapore, or may not have the ability to pay for a high-priced luxury item, like Indonesia.

This new development did not mean that the other telcos are out of the race.

The SingTel press statement did not clearly state that it was an exclusive agreement, and the other two operators Starhub and M1 had both previously that they were in discussions with Apple.

Apple is expected to announce a new, 3G version of the handset at a developer conference next month.