Tourist/PAYG SIM - iPhone??
Feb 15th 2011, 10:42 am
#1
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Tourist/PAYG SIM - iPhone??
I have an iPhone 3GS and plan to visit Malaysia looking at districts etc and hopefully finalise my MM2H. Are there any pay as you go or similar SIMs available either on the airlines or when you arrive to keep a mobile operational? One that offers and internet/data package would be preferable but not essential.
Secondly, are iPhones available there and if so, how much? I MIGHT upgrade the iPhone to v5 this year (when it's released) but I'm not sure if they have them in Malaysia or whether they are cheaper as I understand a lot of IT related stuff is. A price comparison of either the 3GS or 4 in Malaysia may help me to decide whether to do it here or not.
Secondly, are iPhones available there and if so, how much? I MIGHT upgrade the iPhone to v5 this year (when it's released) but I'm not sure if they have them in Malaysia or whether they are cheaper as I understand a lot of IT related stuff is. A price comparison of either the 3GS or 4 in Malaysia may help me to decide whether to do it here or not.
Feb 16th 2011, 7:43 am
#2
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Location: Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Posts: 31
Re: Tourist/PAYG SIM - iPhone??
I have an iPhone 3GS and plan to visit Malaysia looking at districts etc and hopefully finalise my MM2H. Are there any pay as you go or similar SIMs available either on the airlines or when you arrive to keep a mobile operational? One that offers and internet/data package would be preferable but not essential.
Secondly, are iPhones available there and if so, how much? I MIGHT upgrade the iPhone to v5 this year (when it's released) but I'm not sure if they have them in Malaysia or whether they are cheaper as I understand a lot of IT related stuff is. A price comparison of either the 3GS or 4 in Malaysia may help me to decide whether to do it here or not.
Secondly, are iPhones available there and if so, how much? I MIGHT upgrade the iPhone to v5 this year (when it's released) but I'm not sure if they have them in Malaysia or whether they are cheaper as I understand a lot of IT related stuff is. A price comparison of either the 3GS or 4 in Malaysia may help me to decide whether to do it here or not.
For a SIM you can get what is called Pre-Paid from any of the service providers, though I believe Digi is cheapest for call rates. I believe you can add on data charges too but have not tried this. I believe there are counters at KLIA, but I fly via Singapore airport so hopefully someone else can shed more light on this one...
Feb 16th 2011, 7:45 am
#3
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Re: Tourist/PAYG SIM - iPhone??
Iphones are not cheaper here - in fact I've looked every where during my travels (UK, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand etc...) and they seem to be the same everywhere. You can get an iphone package on Maxis or Digi, but compared to plans in the UK they are still more expensive. Having said that, I have an iphone 4 which I bought outright at Maxis and I love it (Much better than my 3G which I dropped off a 12th floor balcony - it still worked surprisingly but you couldn't read the screen!)
For a SIM you can get what is called Pre-Paid from any of the service providers, though I believe Digi is cheapest for call rates. I believe you can add on data charges too but have not tried this. I believe there are counters at KLIA, but I fly via Singapore airport so hopefully someone else can shed more light on this one...
For a SIM you can get what is called Pre-Paid from any of the service providers, though I believe Digi is cheapest for call rates. I believe you can add on data charges too but have not tried this. I believe there are counters at KLIA, but I fly via Singapore airport so hopefully someone else can shed more light on this one...
Feb 16th 2011, 8:10 am
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Re: Tourist/PAYG SIM - iPhone??
Hmmmmm, don't know about cheaper in the UK?? Cheapest contract with Voda for a 4 16GB is about £25/122RM a month for 2 years for just 75 minutes, 500MB data and 250 SMS a month and you pay £269/1320 RM for the phone. That's £869/4,262 RM over 2 years. A PAYG 4 will set you back £510/2,500 RM.
In Maxis you'll pay the same for the phone on a 2 year but only 100 RM/£20 pm for 333 minutes, 1GB data and 200 SMS. That's 3790 RM/£772 over 2 years. Nearly £100 cheaper on the money you lay out alone. OK it's not a massive saving but the value out of the monthly payment there is MUCH greater. Over 4 times the monthly minutes and double the data. So the cost of the phone is about the same but the cost of running it less, just, but you get a lot more for your money. It was similar in the UAE. I find 1 GB data more than enough, 500MB not (and excess data charges are high!!). 300 minutes is also more than enough for me, 75 and I'd struggle.
In Maxis you'll pay the same for the phone on a 2 year but only 100 RM/£20 pm for 333 minutes, 1GB data and 200 SMS. That's 3790 RM/£772 over 2 years. Nearly £100 cheaper on the money you lay out alone. OK it's not a massive saving but the value out of the monthly payment there is MUCH greater. Over 4 times the monthly minutes and double the data. So the cost of the phone is about the same but the cost of running it less, just, but you get a lot more for your money. It was similar in the UAE. I find 1 GB data more than enough, 500MB not (and excess data charges are high!!). 300 minutes is also more than enough for me, 75 and I'd struggle.
Last edited by Atilla; Feb 16th 2011 at 8:14 am.
Feb 16th 2011, 8:43 am
#5
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Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Posts: 31
Re: Tourist/PAYG SIM - iPhone??
Hmmmmm, don't know about cheaper in the UK?? Cheapest contract with Voda for a 4 16GB is about £25/122RM a month for 2 years for just 75 minutes, 500MB data and 250 SMS a month and you pay £269/1320 RM for the phone. That's £869/4,262 RM over 2 years. A PAYG 4 will set you back £510/2,500 RM.
In Maxis you'll pay the same for the phone on a 2 year but only 100 RM/£20 pm for 333 minutes, 1GB data and 200 SMS. That's 3790 RM/£772 over 2 years. Nearly £100 cheaper on the money you lay out alone. OK it's not a massive saving but the value out of the monthly payment there is MUCH greater. Over 4 times the monthly minutes and double the data. So the cost of the phone is about the same but the cost of running it less, just, but you get a lot more for your money. It was similar in the UAE. I find 1 GB data more than enough, 500MB not (and excess data charges are high!!). 300 minutes is also more than enough for me, 75 and I'd struggle.
In Maxis you'll pay the same for the phone on a 2 year but only 100 RM/£20 pm for 333 minutes, 1GB data and 200 SMS. That's 3790 RM/£772 over 2 years. Nearly £100 cheaper on the money you lay out alone. OK it's not a massive saving but the value out of the monthly payment there is MUCH greater. Over 4 times the monthly minutes and double the data. So the cost of the phone is about the same but the cost of running it less, just, but you get a lot more for your money. It was similar in the UAE. I find 1 GB data more than enough, 500MB not (and excess data charges are high!!). 300 minutes is also more than enough for me, 75 and I'd struggle.
Feb 16th 2011, 9:11 am
#6
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Re: Tourist/PAYG SIM - iPhone??
You're welcome. These contracts are a pain to fathom at times. I have a quick checklist I go through after a similar experience in the UAE. I just check up front costs, full costs over 2 years, minutes, data, texts and coverage. More of a minefield in the UK as so many providers (albeit not for iPhone). I always run the figures just before I sign up as it's easy to get suckered into the next "Don't miss this amazing deal" 
Maxis link: http://www.maxis.com.my/personal/iphone4/rates.asp
Maxis link: http://www.maxis.com.my/personal/iphone4/rates.asp
Last edited by Atilla; Feb 16th 2011 at 9:14 am.
