CORP TALK: Singapore’s exclusive Apple iPhone distributor and telco, SingTel, will be launching the iPhone 3GS on 10 July (Friday). The price plans for the 3GS has just gone up today here, or if you prefer, we’ve placed it here for your reference.

	Monthly fee (incl GST)	Bundled data (7.2Mbps)1	Bundled mins (outgoing)	Bundled SMS/MMS	iPhone 3G 8GB (from 10 July 09)	iPhone 3GS 16GB	iPhone 3GS 32GB
iFlexi Lite	$39	500MB	100	500	$398	$548	$678
iFlexi Value	$56	1GB	200	500	$138	$288	$438
iFlexi Plus	$95	2GB	500	500	$0	$0	$138
iFlexi Premium	$205	3GB	1500	1500	$0	$0	$0

¹Bundled data allowance is for a limited period only, and is only applicable to customers on 2-year iFlexi Plans. Bundled data allowance is for local usage only. Excess data charges apply. While roaming overseas, prevailing data roaming charges apply.

All prices for iPhone 3G 8GB, iPhone 3GS 16GB and 32GB are only avalaible at the pre-order site here. All prices will only be effective from 10 July 2009.

Apparently, the iFlexi plan for the 3GS is cheaper compared to the same plan for the iPhone 3G.

UPDATE 09/07/09: The guys over at HWM/HardwareZone.com Singapore have made two videos in relation to the Apple iPhone 3GS, which will be made available to Singapore-based SingTel subscribers on July 10. If you’re a current iPhone 3G user or you’re a new user, check out these videos to have a better understanding of the difference (and improvements) between these two models from our perspective.

Here’s a video made comparing speed differences between the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS.

Do check here for a written coverage of the iPhone 3GS by the HWM Singapore/HardwareZone.com team online.

This is in conjunction with the launch of LG’s LH50, LH70 and LH35 Full HD TVs. Viewers only need log in here to watch the documentaries and cast their vote by 9 August 2009.

South-east Asian viewers can now vote for their fave HD documentaries from National Geographic Channel in a collaboration with LG Electronics.

The BRAVIA ZX1 is a 40" Full HD LCD TV that fits in any existing decor.

SHOWCASE: Sony launched a bunch of LCD TVs in Singapore and Philippines recently, with the Philippines launch held on 27 May 2009 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Manila and the Singapore launch held on 9 June at the Red Dot Museum, Singapore.

The star of the launch in both countries is of course, the BRAVIA ZX1, a 40-inch Full-HD panel with a significant lean depth of 9.9mm. Powered with Sony’s Edge LEDs, the ZX1 uses side-LEDs incorporating a “Light Guide Plate” to ensure the same luminance as the CCFL breeds, so that center areas of the screen are evenly lit. Expect the BRAVIA ZX1 to be available in June 2009.

Besides the ZX1, Sony also unveiled the WE5 Series in both countries. The WE5 aims to conserve energy with the use of a Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (HCFL) for its backlights, and an Intelligent Presence Sensor that senses if a viewer is present in the room. If the viewer is absent, the sensor will automatically turn the TV off to reduce power consumption by over 40%.

More pictures after the jump. (more…)

Nokia N97 launch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Mr. Vlasta Berka, General Manager, Nokia Singapore/Malaysia & Brunei shares the benefits of the new Nokia N97.

SHOWCASE: The country editors of HWM Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have come together to share photos from the launch of the Nokia N97. The Malaysia/Singapore launch was held on 5 June 2009 in a Web-themed launch party at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, while Indonesia had theirs on 8 June 2009 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Philippines launch is expected for June 25.

At the Kuala Lumpur event, guests were treated to an immersive Internet experience that combined all the Nokia N97 has to offer - social networking, localized Web widgets and apps, multimedia capabilities and a personal touch that exemplifies the S60 5th edition touch experience.

The Singapore edition will give consumers the opportunity to purchase an N97 with the Comes With Music service, giving users one year’s worth of unlimited music downloads. The recommended retail price for the Nokia N97 is RM2,480 in Malaysia and S$1,028 (without Comes with Music) or S$1,228 (with Comes with Music) in Singapore. The price of the device in Indonesia is expected to be 9 million rupiah (US$896).

Here’s a video preview of the Nokia N97 when the Singapore team first had the phone on April 24, 2009:

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Among SingTel’s eight markets, its Indian associate, Bharti, of which SingTel owns a 30.4% stake, posted the biggest customer jump at 52% year-on-year.

CORP TALK: Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) has released a report announcing the company’s increased and combined regional mobile customer base, which has totalled 249 million as of 31 March 2009.

From a base covering eight countries - Australia (Optus), Bangladesh (PBTL), India (Bharti), Indonesia (Telkomsel), Pakistan (Warid), the Philippines (Globe), Singapore (SingTel) and Thailand (AIS), the company’s regional customer base has grown 7.3%, or 17 million on a sequential quarterly basis. Click here to see a breakdown of the stakes SingTel currently has in the various companies across the six other markets besides Singapore and Australia.

Besides India, SingTel also reported that Telkomsel grew its mobile customer base by 41% or 20.8 million year-on-year. The past quarter alone, ending 31 March 2009, saw the Indonesian operator adding 6.8 million customers to its base, with a market share increase of 3% to 49%. (more…)