Wow it seems that my theory is correct! Initially I was shocked bcoz maxis came out with such affordable plan for everyone for the new iPhone. Tat really got me thinking. There was no explanation as other countries seemed to increase their i3gs price as compared to 3g. But maxis i3gs price is identical to i3g price. I was thinking no way since even in the US ppl r complaining about the price hike. But they forgot tat apple gave them rebate when they upgraded from 2g to i3g. So since maxis din bring in i2g, apple has to give rebate for customers who wish to upgrade from i3g to i3gs! Tats the reason y the prepaid price is pretty affordable too. I won't b surprised if the next version of iPhone is more exp than i3gs as experienced by US customers now for i3gs.

@thaisxs

while u might sound tat u r benefiting from this, u r actually losing money if previously u bought your i3g from maxis. Assuming u bought it during the launch which is end of march your i3g would b priced around rm1-1.5k depending on it's condition since it's only less than 5 months old. And you r happy maxis paid u only rm500?

surprise surprise i sold my iPhone 3G at consider a good price . 2k
i'm happy when i got my iPhone 3GS the rebate is juz add on

Why is Maxis handling this iPhone 3GS so damn slow. From the post here, I see people who booked from July still haven't received theirs. I am planning to get one soon for someone, but I don't want to book and I hate the concept of putting money before we see the product. I prefer cash and carry with the hotlink option.

2 words, Worldwide Shortage

I think the booking system is way better than the system where they do not let anyone pre-book, then u need to be the first 400 person in the shop of the day to get the phone, less hassle, but of course, civil unrest growing among people who impatient 

I just received a call from maxis  cs n telling me that they are rebating me RM500 to maxis iPhone 3G user that buy iPhone 3GS.
He told me that the amount will be credited directly to the bill 2 month after u purchased the iPhone 3GS.

the best part of the rebate is the amount can be carry forward

my phone usage is around 90 ++ thats mean i got around 5 months dont have to pay bill ? 

any1 else receive the same call?

WORLDWIDE shortage???
I don’t really see such problem in the States or Australia from the availability check provided by Apple. Most of the stores are green. 
http://www.apple.com/retail/iphone/availability.php
http://www.apple.com/au/retail/iphone/availability.html

I went Maxis Centre at Queensbay on Monday to get iPhone 3G or 3Gs because my phone broke and I needed 1 desperately.

Went there and ask 3Gs got or not. Can I get it now. They say need to wait 1 month. I ask them again. They said Apple said only have stock in 1 month. I assume if I book now, I will only get it in 1 month. 18th August shipment is probably reserved for those who prebooked. Maxis probably learned about their mistake of selling to walk-in already. If 1 week, I can wait but more than that is too long for me.

So, I think about 3G and 3Gs and consider my options. I think paying RM500 for compass, speed and RAM is not worth it for me.

Voice Control, video and others I don't think I will use much anyway. Even Camera I don't use much. I only want the apps and tethering.

Compass is very important for Maps and augmented reality in the future but that feature alone is not worth RM500. I'm not a speed freak and RAM is useless since I don't game much.

So, I get my 3G, which comes with 3.0 already. I'm guessing it is same shipment as 3Gs since it is wrapped and untouched.

The service is quite good but when I say I want use with DiGI, they have nothing to say. When they ask why don't try contract or 3Gs, I answered and they said nothing. I want test my DiGi but they said they will only help with Hotlink registration and setup.

Got my iPhone, happy with it and missing none of the 3Gs function and RM500 richer, I went back.

People should consider whether they really need the speed, video, RAM for gaming and voice control before they buy 3Gs blindly. That's my advice. Will probably get the new iPhone next year since I saved RM500. By then, probably got new design and features. 3Gs looked the same so can't impress girls anyway. Don't want to be a geek and say the Apple logo on the 3Gs looked different or show them the compass so they know it is the 3Gs, haha.

iPhone 3G got lots of stock. But they mostly people want 3Gs. If you can afford RM1990, then you can afford RM3490 which I planned to get but not while waiting for 2 weeks to 1 month or even more. Can't really regret not pre-booking because I'm not really sure and my phone haven't broke. Loving the iPhone so far and 8GB is more than enough unless you have lots of videos/songs.

@abubin

This is another case whereby ppl call the wrong place to ask about the stock availability. You should have called the TTDI maxis centre to ask about your stock!! Not the CS, how on earth should a part time call receiver in customer service know about stock availability in all maxis centres in Malaysia, the obvious answer from them would be either dunno or no stock or limited stock.

BTW, my booking receipt clearly shows the contact no. of my maxis centre. you should check yours too. if you really booked on 18th july, you should b on their priority list, no doubt. pls call and check with them.

Just now I went over to Gardens Maxis Centre I heard that only Maybank Credit Card can apply for installment other banks not accepted. I ask bout other banks that person keep insisting don't have.

@wayne
sunway pyramid still no stock..
mid valley got so lucky..