New iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro owners in Singapore collect their phones with telco fanfare

The official retail launch of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro brought about some fanfare among the local telcos and customers

Red camp Singtel launched its iPhone 12 sales at an exclusive showcase over at the 5G NOW@UNBOXED pop-up store, educating new iPhone 12 owners on the possible use-cases of 5G connectivity with their devices. Customers were treated to demonstrations of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and gaming scenarios.

The iPhone 12 devices are immediately compatible with our local 5G networks upon purchase. Singtel's trial 5G network uses the 3.5GHz and 2,100MHz frequencies, and the telco speed tests reflected 5G throughput with the latest Apple devices.

"We have seen very healthy demand for the new iPhone line-up with one model selling out in just 16 minutes. So far, about 70 per cent of customers preferred to purchase their new iPhone online to avoid crowds amid the pandemic," said Gan Siok Hoon, Managing Director of Sales & Mobile Marketing, Consumer Singapore, Singtel.

"A majority of them have also chosen to subscribe to our 5G services to unlock faster speeds and the next-generation features on the new iPhones."

To help customers better understand their iPhone purchases from the comfort of their homes, Singtel has set up an iPhone x Singtel 5G Virtual Experience to help showcase the capabilities of the phones. The experience includes a rhythm-based mini-game where users can stand a chance to win other Apple accessories, like the Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular), and AirPods Pro.

Over at green camp StarHub, the telco decided to make it an online-only affair. Folks who've been with the telco for 19 years (on average) received a special thanks from StarHub. 12 of them welcomed S$125 worth of gifts: an iPhone Clear Case with MagSafe and a S$50 App Store and iTunes Gift Card, alongside their purchased and delivered iPhone 12 device.

For StarHub, all Mobile+ and Biz+ subscribers are automatically enrolled in their 5G trial at no extra charge. This includes the new owners of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro sitting on the StarHub network.

In addition to the delivered devices, StarHub prepared an intimate meet-and-greet video where StarHub's Chief of Enterprise Business Group Charlie Chan, and Vice President of Mobile Marketing Donovan Kik, expressed their thanks for the many years of support. Users who received the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro can view the video by scanning a QR code that came with their purchase.

“As we embark on the next decade with the infinite possibilities of StarHub 5G, our customers and their satisfaction levels remain front and centre," stated Chan. 

"Today’s glimpse into the future is great validation that technology is here to facilitate stronger connection and collaboration, which has become even more vital for people and businesses."

iPhone fans who opted to purchase their new handsets without telco contracts bought theirs directly from electronics retailers, including Apple itself. 

Across Singapore, the mood at Apple Stores were subdued due to the extra precautions taken amidst the ongoing pandemic. The number of visitors at any one time at each of the three stores have been limited since they reopened back in June — temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings are mandatory to ensure customers and employees stay safe. 

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Meanwhile at Best Denki and Challenger, things appeared to have been pretty low-key as well.

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READ ALSO: Flat edges, better grip, stunning screens: Hands-on with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro

This article was first published on Hardware Zone. Additional reporting by AsiaOne.