YES, Singapore will get the new iPhone 3G - but only after its official release in 22 countries on July 11.
SingTel announced yesterday that it will bring in the newest incarnation of the iPhone "later this year", but declined to reveal pricing and availability details.
However, industry talk says it will probably arrive here in September.
"I'm disappointed that we'll be getting the phone after countries like Australia and Hong Kong," said Mr Darryl Kang, 28, chief operating officer of blog-advertising firm Blog2U.
Among other attractions, the iPhone 3G gives Internet speeds that are twice as fast as its predecessor. Already, industry sources estimate that 100,000 parallel-imported first-generation iPhone have been sold here for up to $800 each.
A mobile-phone shop in Orchard Road told my paper that the iPhone was very popular with its customers and that it will "of course bring in the 3G".
But those thinking of buying the new iPhone from other countries and "unlocking" it may just have to wait. The new phone can only be purchased with an activated service plan, said Apple official carrier AT&T.
Which means Singaporeans have to wait for SingTel to release the iPhone with a package.
There may be other restrictions too. "It's a plain 3G phone and it's not even 3.5G... it's not really going to drive the mobile operator's revenue because the access speed is probably too slow," M1 CEO Neil Montefiore told Marketing magazine.
Still, Singaporeans are excited about it. SingTel received "thousands" of enquiries about the new iPhone after the news broke yesterday, said Mr Chia Boon Chong, SingTel's deputy director of corporate communications. He added there have been "a lot" of reservations for the phone, which can be made online or at Hello! shops, while declining to give figures.
Over at Apple resellers DG Lifestyle at VivoCity and EpiCentre at Wheelock Place, about 30 customers asked about the new iPhone yesterday.
Law Society officer Rufus Soh, 27, who has owned a first-generation iPhone for more than seven months, says he will get the new iPhone from SingTel as he can then dispense with carrying a PDA around.
"The iPhone is already excellent. With 3G, it'll be perfect," he said.
