New Double SIM for iPhone + iPad Users
This morning TrueMove held a "Blogger Day" at Siam Square where, among other things, they announced new data packages . This will come out soon to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 4 in Thailand. There isn't any announcement on their website yet, but I managed to get the following information from Thai bloggers who were tweeting live during the event.
iPack 549 baht/month - Edge (2G) use 1GB, 3G use 1GB and free WiFi
iPack 749 baht/month - 500 SMS & 300 MMS messages, Unlimited for Edge, 3G and WiFi
TrueMove also announced a "double SIM" package for people who have an iPhone and iPad. I am not too clear on this yet, but it looks like if you purchase any iPhone package, you can then get the iPack 749 package at a 200 baht discount. Present packages at True expire on the 30th September 2010. I will update here as soon as the situation becomes clearer.
There has been no announcement of the prices for the iPhone 4 handset which is expected to be released on Friday 24th September 2010. The launch party the night before is by invitation only. However, posters advertising this event at Siam Square have reportedly had the launch date blacked out. Also, it is not known whether people will be able to buy the handset in True, DTAC and AIS shops on Friday or not. There has been no press releases from any of the camps so far other than talking about a midnight launch. One thing for sure is that supplies are expected to be limited. I will update on Twitter @RichardBarrow as soon as I hear anything.
In related news, the iPhone 4 is being released this Saturday in China (25th September). There was a press release from Apple about this but no word about a release in Thailand.
The above pictures were tweeted by @iphonemods and @pinnynoy.
iPhone 4 Launch in Thailand 23 September
We have now received official notice that the iPhone 4 will be launched in Thailand next week as expected.
According to this picture, TrueMove will be holding a Midnight Launch Party starting at 10 p.m. on Thursday 23rd September 2010. The iPhone 4 will then be officially launched after midnight on the 24th September. This will take place at Royal Paragon Hall at Siam Paragon. Bad news is that it is by invitation only.
At least we now know that the launch of the iPhone 4 in Thailand is imminent. The question is, will there be enough handsets for everyone? Take the case of Taiwan where the iPhone 4 is being launched tomorrow. Over 200,000 customers have pre-ordered the iPhone 4 however not all we get one tomorrow. This is because only 45,000-60,000 of the devices are available! I wonder how it is going to be handled here in Thailand.
UPDATE: DTAC will have a press conference for the iPhone 4 on Wednesday 22nd September at 10 a.m. at DTAC House. AIS will be launching their iPhone at CentralPlaza Lad Phrao. Not sure when yet. I will post news on Twitter @RichardBarrow as soon as we receive any definite information.
Is it time to buy the iPad in Thailand?
China is the latest country to launch the iPad which comes out there on Friday 17th September 2010. In the past, Thailand has received Apple products before China but not this time. We still have no official release dates for Thailand which is getting a bit strange now. Rivals to Apple are already bringing out their own tablets and rumours are now rife that the 2nd generation iPad could come out at Christmas or early next year!
To help you make a decision as whether to buy now or wait I have researched the present prices for the iPad. The following prices are worked out on exchange rates for today and should be used as a rough estimate. They already include VAT and sales tax.
In the UK they have both the Wifi and 3G versions:
Wifi: 16GB 20,472 baht, 32GB 23,812 baht and 64 GB 28,584 baht.
3G: 16GB 25,244 baht, 32GB 28,584 baht and 64 GB 33,357 baht.
In the US they have both the Wifi and 3G versions:
Wifi: 16GB 17,170 baht, 32GB 20,560 baht and 64 GB 23,951 baht.
3G: 16GB 21,578 baht, 32GB 24,968 baht and 64 GB 28,359 baht.
The prices for the iPad in Thailand have been dropping in the grey market as people anticipate the official release. I got the following prices from a vendor at MBK in Bangkok yesterday:
WiFi: 16GB 18,000 baht, 32GB 22,000 baht, 64GB 25,500 baht
3G: 16GB 22,600 baht, 32GB 25,800 baht, 64GB 29,000 baht
As you can see, the prices are now very comparable to the UK and the US. In fact these prices are cheaper than in the UK due to the high 17.5% VAT there. So, if you are thinking about buying an iPad, then maybe now is the time to buy!
Midnight Launch Expected for iPhone 4
The three websites of DTAC, TrueMove and AIS are still saying "coming soon" for the iPhone 4 in Thailand. At the moment, AIS and TrueMove are inviting people to register their interest in buying a iPhone 4 handset. At the time of writing, DTAC doesn't have a page on their website for this, but we are expecting them to put this up tomorrow, Thursday 16th September 2010.
UPDATE: dtac customers can register their interest for the dtac iPhone 4 on 16 - 17 September 2010 at www.dtac.co.th/iphone to be among the first to receive price, tariffs and official launch date information. Supply is limited. The online registration is available exclusively for current dtac customers.
ลูกค้าดีแทคที่สนใจอยากเป็นเจ้าของ dtac iPhone 4 สามารถลงทะเบียนออนไลน์ผ่านเว็บไซต์ www.dtac.co.th/iphone ในวันที่ 16 - 17 กันยายน 2553 เพื่อรับข้อมูลอัพเดทล่าสุด ไม่ว่าจะเป็นราคาเครื่อง รายละเอียดแพ็กเกจ และการเปิดตัวของ dtac iPhone 4 ก่อนใคร สินค้ามีจำนวนจำกัด และสงวนสิทธิ์สำหรับลูกค้าดีแทคเท่านั้น
If you look closely at the registration form for AIS, you will see that there is a choice between picking up the iPhone 4 at the shop or at a "Premier Launch Midnight Event". No indication by anyone when this event will take place, but we are expecting it to happen at the end of next week at the earliest. Possibly Friday and most likely at Siam Paragon. I will post news on Twitter @RichardBarrow as soon as we receive any definite information.
UPDATE: We have just heard True will be holding a midnight launch party on Thursday 23rd September 2010 starting at 10 p.m. It is by invitation only.
New iPod Touch Launched in Thailand
You can now buy an 'iPhone without the phone' at only 7,900 baht! While we are still waiting for the official launch of the iPhone 4 in Thailand, the Apple Store here has just launched their new line-up of iPod Touch, iPod nano and iPod shuffle devices.
Yesterday, the Thailand Apple Store released the 4th generation version of the iPod Touch. This has only just been released in America and comes as a surprise move just weeks before an expected release in Thailand of the iPhone 4. As the new Ipod Touch has been described as an 'iPhone without the phone', Apple might be finding that some people will be going for this cheaper option rather than the more expensive iPhone 4. Unlike previous versions of the iPod Touch, this version has a camera, two in fact though the rear camera is only 1 megapixel. However, it has HD video and can do Facetime video conferencing with other iPod Touch and iPhone 4 users. The units are priced at 7,900 baht (8GB), 10,400 baht (32GB) and 13,900 baht (64GB). Prices already include VAT.
Also released this week are the iPod nano and the iPod shuffle. The nano is priced at 5,400 (8GB) and 6,600 baht (16GB). The shuffle is priced at 2,000 baht (2GB). You can buy all of these in the Apple online store.
iPhone 4 on Sale in Thailand Soon!
Although there has yet to be any official word, all signs are that the iPhone 4 will be available for pre-order this week in Thailand and will go on sale in the shops from 24th September 2010. Of course, these are just rumours, but the chatter on the Thai forums is becoming more specific with many clues suggesting that the official release is imminent.
The iPhone 4 will be sold in Thailand simultaneously by True Move, DTAC and AIS. In theory it sounds great that we will have more competition this time. When the iPhone 3GS came out last year, only True Move were selling the handset. However, don't make the mistake in thinking we will be getting a better deal as the prices are expected to be fixed by Apple. All three will sell the iPhone 4 in Thailand at the same price. However, what will vary is the price of the data package.
At the moment, there has been no official news about the prices of the iPhone 4 in Thailand. However, if you take a look on the citibank website, they have just started a promotion where you can get an iPhone 4 for free! They even include a price as you can see above. According to Citibank, the iPhone 4 (16GB) will be sold for 22,000 baht. I doubt this price includes VAT so expect final price to be 23,540 baht. This is about 4,000 baht cheaper than what it is being sold for in the grey market in MBK. From this price, we can speculate that the iPhone 4 (32GB) will be sold for about 27,000 baht (including VAT). This is about 5,000 baht cheaper than the present price at MBK.
Follow me on Twitter for all the latest news about the iPhone 4 in Thailand. I will also tweet about the official release of the iPad and the new iPod touch which is expected soon.
True, DTAC, AIS Prepare to Sell iPhone 4
We are expecting to be able to pre-order the iPhone 4 next week at True, DTAC and AIS websites with an expected release date in Thailand of 24th September. Of course these are just rumours at the moment but AIS have just joined the club this afternoon by putting up a splash page on their website for the iPhone 4.
Buying an iPhone 4 in Thailand
There are many rumours going around at the moment about the imminent release of the iPhone 4 in Thailand. As the expected release date for the iPhone 4 nears, prices at MBK in the grey market are coming down. Is it now time to buy one or should we wait for the official release in Thailand?
The latest Internet rumours suggest that you will be able to place pre-orders for the iPhone as early as next week with the official launch date of the iPhone 4 in Thailand to be on the 24th September 2010. At the moment we do not have an expected price for this handset. We only have speculation that the iPhone 4 will be similar to the present official price of the 3GS handset: 26,215 baht (16GB) and 30,495 baht (32GB). I visited MBK the other day and the kind of prices I was being offered in the grey market for the iPhone 4 were 27-29,000 baht (16GB) and 32-33,000 baht (32GB).
If our speculated prices are correct, then you are only paying an extra 2-3,000 baht if you buy now. However, one thing that might influence and even maybe lower the official prices in Thailand, is the fact that the iPhone 4 is reportedly being sold as low as 24,000 baht in Hong Kong for the 32GB handset. These are factory unlocked so can be used in Thailand.
So, you will have to decide whether to buy now on the presumption that the official prices won't be much lower or wait to see if they are influence by the Hong Kong prices. The advantage of buying now is that you should get a better price for selling your old iPhone in the secondhand market. Once the iPhone 4 is released officially in Thailand, there will be a lot more people out there selling their old iPhone 3G and 3GS which is going to make it hard for you to get a good price. I was quoted only 13-15,000 baht to buy my iPhone 3GS (16GB) handset.
If you are going to buy an iPhone 4 now at MBK, make sure that it is factory unlocked and not jailbroken. It is easy to tell the difference because jailbroken phones will have the Cydia app. Ask for a UK, Australia or Hong Kong iPhone. Also, make sure that you go to a shop where the owner seems to know what they are talking about. At a couple of shops I visited the saleswoman had to keep calling someone on her phone to get answers. If you are selling an old iPhone ask them if they can do a better deal for buying and selling at the same time. Also ask if they will cut down your regular SIM for free so that it will fit in the new iPhone 4 handset.
Once you have bought an iPhone 4 in Thailand, what happens next? The phone only has the free apps. What do you do about transferring your old apps and contacts to the new phone? Nikolaus Heger, who is a visitor to our blog, wrote these useful tips as he had recently done the upgrade:
1 - You tell True you want to switch to a Micro SIM - they give you one. Your phone number remains the same, but is now tied to the new micro SIM, and your old SIM card doesn't work any more. This service costs 49 Baht.
2 - You put the new SIM in the iPhone 4 and turn it on - it then "activates". Before this happens, you can't do anything with the phone, not even connect to iTunes, so this has to come first.
3 - You connect your new phone to iTunes. iTunes then verifies the phone. After that, it asks you if you want to restore from a previous iPhone. You then get a list of backups to choose from, or maybe just one. Just choose the most recent backup if you have more than one (example, I had backups of my old iPhone 1, my iPhone 3GS, and my wife's iPhone)
4 - iTunes restores the iPhone 4 from backup. Everything you had on your old phone is now on your new phone. That includes text messages, bookmarks, emails, the wallpaper, contacts - anything and everything. Apps, music, and videos too. Music syncs once the iPhone is restored from backup as the music / media files are not part of the backup - they're restored from your computer. Photos are in the backup. Your new iPhone looks exactly like your old one did after this.
Have you bought the new iphone already or are you still waiting? Let us know in the comments section below.
New iPod Touch with Camera!
Do you want the features of iPhone 4 for not much more than 7,000 Baht? Now you can with the release in America of the new iPod Touch. It does practically everything an iPhone 4 handset does without the expensive carrier charges.
Even before the iPhone 4 gets an official release in Thailand, we are already being tempted with new products from Apple. However, it might not be such a wise move on their part delaying the Thailand release of the iPhone 4 as some people might now decide to skip the mobile phone and go straight for the fourth generation iPod Touch. After all, it has most of the same features but at a fraction of the cost. The iPod Touch will retail in America from $229 (about 7,100 Baht) while the iPhone 4 is expected to be about $800 (25,000 Baht). The following are some of the main features according to the Apple website.
- FaceTime: FaceTime brings video calling to iPod touch. So now you can see your friends and talk to them.
- Retina display: The remarkable 960-by-640 resolution on iPod touch makes everything you see and do on it look even more incredible.
- HD video recording: iPod touch lets you record, edit, and share stunning HD video. And because it’s always with you, you’ll never miss a great video op.
- Even better gaming: The A4 processor helps give you even more amazing gaming. And Game Center lets you play against friends anywhere in the world.
Even though the new iPod Touch is not a mobile phone like it's more expensive cousin, it can help you keep in contact by using your WiFi network. These days, most people "talk" with each other on social networking sites. But, if they want to actually speak, then they can use the Skype app to talk for free with anyone around the world. In addition, with FaceTime, you can do video conferencing with anyone else with an iPhone Touch AND/OR even an iPhone 4! So, if you want to keep in touch with a family member or girlfriend, then this might be a cheaper alternative to buying them an iPhone. The iPod Touch has two cameras. The one on the back can record HD quality video which you can edit straight away. However, the stills camera, though good, apparently isn't as good as the iPhone 4.
The iPod Touch will be available next week in America for $229 (8GB), $299 (32GB) and $399 (64GB). No news yet of a release date for Thailand. As my iPod Classic is now on its last legs I am really tempted to get the new iPod Touch. However, I am not sure if I will buy it instead of the iPhone 4. It is important for my work to be able to connect to the Internet wherever I am, and I am out and about a lot away from WiFi networks. I guess I might just have to buy both!
UPDATE: The new iPod Touch was released in Thailand about a week after America. Here are the prices which already include VAT:
8GB: 7,900 Baht
32GB: 10,400 Baht
64GB: 13,900 Baht
iPhone Gets Gmail Push Notifications
Ever missed an appointment or important email because you were away from your desk? Now Google Mobile App can help with push notifications from your Google account to your iPhone -- an icon badge shows you’ve got new mail in Gmail, and Google Calendar event reminders appear right on your home screen.
You can get the update from the App Store by clicking on the link above or by searching for ‘Google Mobile App’.
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การใช้ไอโฟนในประเทศไทย
On this blog I will be sharing with you tips and methods of using an iPhone and iPad in Thailand. I am not pretending to be an expert, but I hope that from my personal experience of using an iPhone for my work and pleasure you might gain some knowledge. As well as reviewing apps that I use, I will also post about accessories and also the latest news from around the world.
- Richard Barrow
Twitter: @RichardBarrow
Archives: @TwitterArchives
Contact: @Paknamweb.com
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