If Apple US require you to activate on-the-spot, i presume the same practice will be implemented elsewhere too. Now there is really no way to get away with the 2-year contract with the telco without getting fined/penalised/charged in one way or another.

I don't know what are the implications of asking a friend to sign-up and activate the phone and subsequently not paying the monthly bill. I don't think we could subscribe to the plan ourselves too without having a permanent address in the country. If that's the case, we can't be driving down to Singapore, register with their telco and drive home with a spanking new 3G iPhone.

Having said that, i feel the current gen iPhone still has its resell value...at least for now.

that is probably one reason why malaysia is not on the list, unless somehow our msia telco get to apple.

i expect GBP100 (hopefully way lower ) for the phone with the typical gbp 35 per month for 18 month with o2 uk.

though gbp 35 = rm250 per month, but gbp 35 is a typical tariff in uk.

Apple released early this morning, the iPhone 3G with the price of 199 U.S. dollars aroused global consumers to purchase almost frenzied desire. But not all, iPhone Acting British operator O2 has announced that they will provide free agreement signed with the use of the new iPhone 3G package.

Before the U.S. carrier partner AT & T has revealed that this iPhone 3G released after Apple has given up before the calls into profit mode, move to Europe and the United States common carriers at subsidized mode. That is, from mobile phone operators to afford the price of some or even all, this part of the costs passed on to the signing of the agreement to pay the bills in the future.

O2 has the advantages of this model will play out next month on the 11th iPhone 3G after listing. British users signed for a period of 18 months of phone usage agreement, will be able to get free iPhone cell phone. One package of 45 pounds per month (including 600 minutes calls, 500 text messages and Internet traffic is not limited) to get free iPhone 8GB, monthly packages of 75 pounds with free iPhone 16GB. In addition, users can also choose 30 or 35 pounds per month of calls set, but the need to pay 99 or 159 U.S. dollars to buy iPhone 8GB/16GB. O2 also said that they will continue to provide direct payment of the purchase of mobile phone sales, but the specific price has not yet been disclosed.

Below we have to be an account to 45 pounds per month O2 free iPhone 3G 8GB with the package as an example, 18, the total expenses for 810 pounds, or close to 1,600 U.S. dollars. U.S. users need to pay the cost of 199 U.S. dollars for mobile phones, two-year contract set 40 U.S. dollars per month voice + data set 30 U.S. dollars, 24, a total 1,880 U.S. dollars, equivalent to 18 months for 1,410 U.S. dollars, compared to the United Kingdom to the actual number of cheaper.

yea it is very normal for western countries. like in UK, some is free phone while subscribe their 2years plan or so on

haha ya terms and condition apply...

even s'pore also hot about this issue!!

some manager approached me and ask me question and look at my iPhone. i think he wants to check it out whether is the new GPS proloded and 3G functions~

http://www.apple.com/sg/iphone/

and i don think S'pore will be selling cheap here.
my frens got it at S$1000 = RM2370 for 16GB last week....

guess the latest model tie with Singtel will be costly some as Nokia 8800 S$1k+

By the way, if you live in Singapore and are gonna be getting iPhone 3G, here's what you can do, reserve your iPhone 3G:

http://home.singtel.com/iphone/

3G  iphone will be sold around the coming Septemeber in Singapore, and the Singtel have start accept the reservation in their official shop, online reservation have been terminated, because the reservation only allow that who want to sign plan with Singtel. Anyway the iphone still will be unlocked version due to the singapore law, and they still will sell the iphone without any plan. Price will be around S$500-800 (8GB-16GB).Anyone interested?? ha ha, bcs I am currently at singapore

Hmmm... I am not sure also. I heard it from my friend who work in singtel, I am not sure also. And also it may only sell to singaporean or who holding related visa. I currently is singtel user as well, hope i will be able to get it at that time...

cant compare prices from other countries.

the nearest if we do want to compare is spore.

steve jobs not so stupid one leh.. he said $199, doesnt mean it will be $199 worldwide without the plan.. like wat others have said, the full cost of the 3g has been subsidised by the telcos if its $199.. look at the plan u already know.. like wat optus is offering.. madness.. rip off..

whatever he, or everyone said in the conference have been planned properly already.. u think they go up there the n just talk without planning one meh.. marketing is the word.. i can tell u that i'll sell my current ferarri for RM50.. and charge about rm1k for the shipping cost to ur place.. but then i'll also charge another RM 2m as service charge..

but, if u think about it. RM2.5k for the 8gb version is quite reasonable already since the price for the first iphone is about rm1.8k.. and its still cheaper than the HTC TYTN II! and better! i used the tytn2 for a few mins my fingers already tired.. have to use the.. i duno wat stick is that.. LOL. .

Jobs has already mentioned that the iPhone is $199 worldwide. This mean Apple is enforcing a plan, and negotiating with telcos the fact that the iPhone 3G has an app store. Singapore law means the iPhone is going to be unlocked - if it isn't, it will be hacked. I really doubt it will be RM2k.

Remember the Nintendo Wii (which is more expensive than the iPhone) that was running low worldwide and not sold here? The first few months it's going to be high, but I believe it will settle down to a fair level.

don't lazy to look around, read THIS

i just worried abt the waranty since its not officially available here. u getting 1 bro?

wonder how much they gonna forfeit if cancel the contract after 2 month usage... hmm

That's ridiculous. Why would they blacklist you if you pay "22x $50 = $1100"? If you pay $1100, you would have paid whatever you would have owed them throughout the length of the contract.

To get out of a contract after 30 days, you just need to pay an early termination fee, which I believe is $175 after 1 month, and it gets progressively cheaper the further down the contract you are. I think if you sign up and cancel after a month, the total cost of the phone would be about $480. Of course, you would then have trouble signing up for another contract in the future if you do that.