68,000 customers register with SingTel to buy iPhone 5

SINGAPORE: SingTel said it received a record 68,000 customers who registered their interest over six days to purchase the new iPhone 5.

A spokesman from the telco added that there was an overwhelming response to its appointment booking website, and the 10,000 appointment slots to buy iPhone 5 at its event were snapped up within one and a half hours.

M1 said the registration of interest for the iPhone 5 surpassed previous iPhone models.

StarHub also reported strong interest from its customers.

M1 and StarHub declined to reveal the number of interested customers.

Singapore is among the first eight countries and cities outside the US to sell iPhone 5 on Friday.

iPhone fans are expected to start queuing from Thursday evening to be among the first to get their hands on Apple’s new smart phone, touted as the thinnest in the world.

SingTel has organised a special three—day launch event for the iPhone 5, starting on Friday, 8am at Marina Bay Sands Exhibition Hall D.

SingTel’s 4G monthly subscription plans for iPhone 5 range from about S$39.90 to S$205.

M1’s range from S$39 to S$198.

The phone can cost as much as S$758, depending on the subscription plan the customer signs up for.

The iPhone 5 will use the high speed 4G network, which is being rolled out in Singapore.

Customers near and as far as Thailand are in the queue at the M1 outlet at Paragon since 3pm, ahead of Friday’s launch.

— CNA/xq/ck