Using an iPhone & iPad in Thailand Tips, App Reviews and News for the iPhone and iPad by Richard Barrow

TrueMove Launch microSIM for 3G iPads

Is TrueMove planning on officially releasing an iPad 3G soon? At the moment in Thailand we can only buy iPads in the grey market at places like MBK, Fortune Tower and Panthip Plaza for inflated prices. Now comes the news that TrueMove are selling microSIMs and new data packages for the iPad 3G and of course the upcoming iPhone 4. Is TrueMove just trying to cash in on the large number of iPads floating around now or does this really mean that we will have an official version soon? Hopefully, if this is the case, the prices of the iPads at places like MBK will drop dramatically. If you are thinking about buying one soon, you might want to step back a second and review the situation. Personally, even if I wanted an iPad, I would wait for the second generation version which might have some of the new hardware features of the iPhone 4.

The following is the press release from TrueMove:

TrueMove First to Launch  TrueMove hi-speed microSIM for 3G iPads

Mr. Suphakit Vuntanadit, Chief Officer of Commercial of TrueMove Company Limited, is introducing the new TrueMove hi-speed microSIM that can work on 3G-enabled gadgets including 3G+WiFi iPads and other cutting-edge mobile devices. First to launch in Thailand, the TrueMove hi-speed microSIM strongly affirms TrueMove’s leadership in hi-speed mobile internet ahead of other competitors. TrueMove’s 850MHz 3G network is fully compatible with 3G+WiFi iPads and provides a maximum speed of 7.2 Mbps.

TrueMove’s 3G coverage is currently active in Bangkok metropolis and its vicinity, as well as major provincial areas such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya and Hua Hin. iPad users can also enjoy Wi-Fi access — made convenient with the Easy Wi-Fi Application, available for downloading at the App Store, needing only a one-off registration of username and password   - via over 17,000 hotspots nationwide.

TrueMove offers 2 monthly plans to suit each and every lifestyle and need of customers. A monthly plan of 650Bht offers 1GB high-speed internet browsing and file downloading through 3G* connectivity and 1GB EDGE/GPRS,  as well as unlimited Wi-Fi for first 3 month. While the 400Bht monthly plan allows usage of 500MB EDGE/GPRS and 200MB 3G trail service. Existing TrueMove customers with the Wi-Fi iPad can also subscribe to a value-added monthly package of 250Bht for unlimited Wi-Fi access.

Those interested can subscribe to TrueMove hi-speed microSIM at any of the 32 True Shops and TrueMove Shops in Bangkok metropolis starting from June 1, 2010 onwards. For more enquiries, please call 08 2000 3333 or visit www.truemove.com/3g

The iPhone 4 is expected to arrive in Thailand in the grey market by early July 2010. If you decide to pay the inflated prices charged at MBK and other malls in Bangkok, then you will probably be able to use these new microSIM cards from TrueMove. I also understand that AIS have their own microSIM which they launched in May. (Strange because TrueMove used the word "first" in their press release). Interestingly, if you do a quick Google search, you will find that there are ways to literally CUT your regular SIM card to fit the iPad 3G and iPhone 4! And then you can buy adapters to allow it to fit in your regular devices. Maybe that way will be better. Worth considering anyway.

New iPhone 4 in Thailand by September 2010

In the early hours of the morning, Thailand time, the new iPhone 4 was unveiled to the public for the first time. Due to the number of leaks, there weren't really that many surprises, but it was good at least to have some of the rumours confirmed.

Some of the major new features include:

iPhone Stills Camera - The iPhone can now shoot pictures at 5 megapixels and has the long awaited built-in LED flash. They are also reporting it to be better in low-light situations which I have found disappointing on my 3GS. Two other new features for the camera include tap focus, where you choose which part of the picture to be in focus, and a x5 digital zoom. One bonus, for Thai people at least, is the front-facing camera which now makes it easier to take self-portraits. I know my Thai friends love taking pictures of themselves at every place that they visit!

iPhone Video Camera -The best news about the video upgrade is that you can now shoot in HD at 30 frames per second and at 720p. This means that it should look acceptable on your large LCD screens. There is also a new app for the iPhone called iMovie (priced at $4.99) that will allow you to do some extensive video editing before uploading to youtube while still out in the field. For some people, probably the best new feature is that you can now make video conference calls over a WiFi network. However, it would seem that it only works if you call another iPhone 4. It would have been nice to link it up with say Skype.

New Look. New Features - The new iPhone is 34% thinner than the present 3GS iPhone at only 9.3 millimeters. It is also now flat and is encased using a much stronger stainless steal alloy. Not tested yet, but this together with the scratch resistant glass, probably means it can survive more falls which can only be good news for people who use the iPhone for live reporting in a war zone. The quality of the display is said to be far greater than before and this, together with the new iBook app, will make it easier to read books and pdf documents.

Longer Battery Life - Some more good news for people using the iPhone in the field is that the battery is 16 percent bigger than 3GS. This translates as 40 percent more talk time. According to Apple, we now have 7 hours talk; 6 hours 3G browsing; 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing; 10 hours video; 40 hours music; 300 hours standby.

Release Dates - The iPhone 4, which comes in black or white, is available for pre-order on 15th June 2010 for the U.S., France, U.K., Germany and Japan. It then goes on sale for the first time on 24th June 2010. The following month the number of countries will increase to 18. These include Finland, Hong Kong, Italy, Canada, Australia, South Korea, Singapore and Belgium.

Coming to Thailand - The next shipping date is expected by September 2010 which will bring the list of countries to 88. Steve Jobs says this is the "fastest rollout ever". We haven't seen a full list yet, but we are expecting the iPhone 4 to be officially released in Thailand in September 2010. Of course, shops in MBK and Pantip Plaza will probably have the iPhone 4 in Thailand by July 2010. But, that will come at a price. Personally, if I was going to upgrade to the iPhone 4, I would wait a few more months when the prices in the "grey market" will come down after the official release.

Visit the apple website for a full list of features on the new iPhone 4.

UPDATE: As predicted, the iPhone 4 is being released in Thailand on September 24th 2010. All three camps selling this handset, DTAC, AIS and TrueMove, will hold midnight launch parties on September 23rd.

Free Skype Calls on 3G/Edge

Skype recently updated its iPhone application to allow you to make Skype to Skype calls over 3G. Previously we could only do that using WiFi. When I first upgraded the Skype app a message said it was free only until August 2010. But when I clicked on the link for more information, the new page said free until the end of the year. This is their announcement:

What does the “free Skype trial” mean?

You can now make and receive Skype-to-Skype calls and call phones over 3G from your iPhone. To get you started, we’re offering you free Skype-to-Skype calls over 3G until the end of 2010. After that there’ll be a small monthly fee. Remember, you can always make free Skype-to-Skype calls from a WiFi hotspot.

DTAC introduces ‘Happy Internet’ SIM

‘Happy’ introduces “Happy Internet”, the new SIM that require neither minimum charges nor any service package subscription but impose a flat rate of only 25 satang per minute. The new product is to support social media, which are serving the users of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and bloggers.

The Bt69 Happy Internet SIMs come with 300 free minutes of mobile Internet data usage before charging only 25 satang a minute for mobile Internet data, Bt1 per minute for voice and Bt5 per MMSs. It also offers unlimited mobile Internet data usage for Bt99 per day.

Pakorn Pannachet, senior vice president of dtac’s Product Division, said with the increasing number of smartphones and featured-phone users, the usage of dtac’s network for data transmission was growing tremendously. From 3 million users in 2008, the number almost reached 4 million in 2009. The figure is expected to rise by about 40% this year from its level last year.

When important situations occur, people tend to use social media to receive updates and information right away. The usage is rising as social media are becoming more popular. Twitter proves to play important roles in keeping people informed especially in recent crises. dtac decides to meet the need of the people who use social media, especially Twitter, and has developed the new, suitable and user-friendly SIM cards.

"Total mobile Internet users are about 12 million-13 million - which about 6 million are with AIS, over 2 million with True Move and about 4 million with us," Pakorn said.

“According to latest information, social media are mostly used via mobile phones, both smartphones and featured-phones. Statistics show that more Thai people are using Twitter. Among the top 50 popular and interesting websites for Thai people, Twitter was 21st in April up from 26th. As users can tweet with messages, each of which must not exceed 140 characters, they can do that conveniently via mobile phones. Besides, the number of people using other social media including Facebook via mobile phones is twice as much as the number of people using them via computers. Moreover, Twitter is another channel that companies and shop owners use to communicate with their customers and provide them with information and updates directly,” Pakorn said.

Source: DTAC Press Release and The Nation