Singapore telcos to offer iPhone 4 in coming months

QX179R SG

SINGAPORE: Apple has unveiled its latest generation of iPhone in the US.

But consumers in Singapore will have to wait a little longer before it hits the stores here.

The three telcos, M1, SingTel and StarHub say they expect to offer iPhone 4 in the coming months.

The device is expected to retail at 199 US dollars when it is launched in the US.

It is not immediately clear how much iPhone 4 would cost in Singapore.

But analysts say it will be priced close to the current iPhone 3GS model, which could cost up to S$658 or S$668, depending on the different subscription plans offered by the three telcos.

Market watchers also believe Apple will offer the new iPhone to all the telcos, steering away from the exclusive-deal business model.

This will help the company achieve higher sales volume to regain market share from Google's Android phones.

Industry reports say that the Android is slowly taking over Apple's position in the smartphone market.

In the first quarter this year, the Android sold five million units in the US compared to Apple's eight million.

Analysts expect the local take-up rate of the iPhone 4 to be healthy.

One in three smartphones taken up in Singapore is an iPhone.

Apple will stagger the release dates of iPhone 4 in July for 18 countries and August for 24 countries.

- CNA/ir

Babyball77 SG

wow thats is X compare to US..............LOLZ

QX179R SG

iPhone 4 in short supply

TOKYO - APPLE'S newest iPhone was in short supply just hours after its global launch began in Tokyo on Thursday morning as hundreds queued outside stores across the city to become among the first in the world to own the device.

Over 300 people were lined up at the flagship store of Softbank, Japan's exclusive iPhone carrier, when its doors opened in the hip shopping district of Harajuku. The store ran out of phones by early afternoon, said company spokesman Naoki Nakayama.

'We've been selling out at each launch, it's the same conditions,' he said, declining to release any numbers.

Hundreds more lined up across the city at Apple stores and other Softbank outlets across the city. Thursday's global launch of the iPhone 4 was being carried out at 7am in each region, so Japanese were among the first in the world to get their hands on the device. The US, France, UK and Germany are also part of the global launch.

When the initial version of the iPhone was released in Japan two years ago, some questioned whether it could succeed without many of the advanced hardware features common on Japanese models. But the phone's addictive touch screen and broad selection of downloadable applications have made it a runaway hit in the country.

The newest model is thinner with a better-resolution screen and longer battery life. It features a new operating system that can also be installed on some older models. Even among Apple's most faithful, some said the phone has become a victim of its own success in Japan. -- AP

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Consumer Reports will not recommend Apple iPhone 4

SAN FRANCISCO - Consumer Reports said it cannot recommend Apple's iPhone 4 to buyers after tests confirmed the device's well-publicized reception glitches.

It added that that AT&T Inc, the exclusive mobile phone carrier for the iPhone 4, was not necessarily the main culprit.

The influential nonprofit organization, which publishes guides on everything from cars to TVs, said in a report released on Monday that it also tested other phones -- including the iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre -- and found none had the signal-loss problems of Apple's latest iPhone.

The report was the latest blow to the iPhone 4, which sold 1.7 million units in its first three days on the market but has been plagued by complaints of poor reception. Many of the complaints involve a wraparound antenna whose signal strength is said to be affected if touched in a certain way.

Kaufman Bros analyst Shaw Wu said he was surprised by the stance that Consumer Reports took on the new iPhone. Wu noted that the group's recommendations are used as a guide by many consumers.

"Consumer reports is a respected publication. This could have an impact on iPhone sales," Wu said.

Apple shares were down 1 percent at $257.06 on Monday afternoon on the Nasdaq.

The company has been sued by iPhone customers in at least three complaints related to antenna problems.

"When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone's lower left side -- an easy thing, especially for lefties -- the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you're in an area with a weak signal," contributor Mike Gikas said in a report on the Consumer Reports website.

"Our findings call into question the recent claim by Apple that the iPhone 4's signal-strength issues were largely an optical illusion caused by faulty software that 'mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength,'" Gikas said.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

Gikas recommended covering the gap in the wraparound antenna with duct tape or some other non-conductive material.

Apple has said almost any cellphone will suffer a loss of signal if held in certain ways. It said later it had discovered a software glitch that overstates signal strength, though it did not directly address concerns about the antenna with that admission.

On the flip side, Consumer Reports said the iPhone scored high on other testing grounds such as battery life, sharp display and high-quality video camera.

However, Gikas said the signal problem was the reason the iPhone 4 would not be classified as a "recommended" device in its smartphone ratings.

"Apple needs to come out with a permanent -- and free -- fix to the antenna problem before we can recommend the iPhone4," said Gikas in his blog post on ConsumerReports.org.

-- Reuters

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Apple to hold iPhone press conference Friday

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple Inc has called a surprise press conference for Friday to talk about the iPhone 4, as the company continues to deal with fallout from reported reception problems on its popular smartphone.

Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said late on Wednesday the company would hold the event at 10 a.m. on Friday at its headquarters in Cupertino, California.

He declined to provide further details, or to say whether the event will address the signal-strength problems that some people have reported having with the iPhone 4 when the device is held in a certain way.

Apple has faced mounting criticism from analysts and consumers over its handling of complaints about the reception issues on the newest iPhone, which was launched last month.

Analysts say Apple has created a public relations headache for itself by appearing to dismiss or ignore the problem, allowing a minor issue to be turned into headline news.

Although most analysts believe a recall of the device is unlikely, a growing chorus have urged Apple to resolve the matter, perhaps by offering free iPhone cases, which appear to solve the problem.

The iPhone 4 has been an unqualified hit with consumers, and sales have so far been unaffected by the controversy, analysts say. Apple sold 1.7 million units in its first three days to become the fastest selling device in the company's history.

But scattered reports cropped up early on from users who complained about decreased signal strength when they touched certain parts of the phone.

The company has been sued by several consumers over the matter. Still, the problem does not appear to be widespread.

Earlier this month, Apple issued a statement, saying the problem was caused by a software glitch that overstates network signal strength. But some found that explanation wanting.

Many who follow the company believe the problem is with the hardware itself. A steel band runs along the outside of the iPhone 4 and acts as the antenna.

The influential publication Consumer Reports said on Monday it could not recommend the iPhone 4 to buyers because of problems with its signal-strength. It has called on Apple to provide a free fix to iPhone 4 buyers.

Shares of Apple closed up 0.4 percent at $252.73 on Nasdaq on Wednesday.

-- Reuters

QX179R SG

Two telecommunications operators will launch the iPhone 4 next week

Telecommunications operators, SingTel and StarHub will be launching the iPhone 4 on Friday next week (30 July).

And according to a customer service officer from SingTel, the telco plans to start selling the device at midnight.

He was making the rounds calling those who have reserved it.

As for the iPad which will be available in Singapore from tomorrow, SingTel won't be selling the device but will offer data plans to go with the wifi + 3G models.

-- 938Live