Malaysia iPhone 4: What are Missing?

Filed in: Apple, Gadgets, Malaysia — September 26th, 2010

Malaysia iPhone 4 has been launched by Maxis and DiGi on 24th September 2010. While we are jumping up and down to celebrate the arrival of iPhone 4, there are few things about iPhone 4 we don’t get in Malaysia.

NO free iPhone 4 casing

free iPhone 4 case program

Apple promised to give free iPhone 4 casing to everyone who purchased iPhone 4 before 30th September 2010. However, neither Maxis nor DiGi ever mentioned about the iPhone 4 Case Program.

According to a blogger who attended the Maxis iPhone 4 launch has confirmed that no free iPhone casing/bumper from Maxis.

I had then asked about the “free iPhone case” program. Mr. Van Obeke confirmed that the free case will not be offered to customers of Maxis.

Malaysia’s neighbor, Singapore got their iPhone 4 few months earlier and now they are still entitled to get free bumper or casing via the Singapore iPhone 4 Case Program

Unfair? Yes.

NO contract-free iPhone 4

contract-free iPhone 4 in Singapore

Malaysians do not get contract-free iPhone 4. DiGi or Maxis, both require iPhone 4 buyers to sign up for their contracts, minimum of 12 months (Maxis). If you are non-DiGi-non-Maxis user, then you are forced to switch to buy iPhone 4.

Compared to Singapore, they could have contract-free iPhone 4. They can even online order iPhone 4 on Singapore Apple store!

Envy? Yes.

NO White iPhone 4

Where is WHITE iPhone 4?

If you remember, iPhone 4 comes in two color: black and white. But only black iPhone 4 is available now. There is no sign of WHITE iPhone 4 yet, in Malaysia and Worldwide.

Wanted? Yes.

Update: There’s rumor saying that white iPhone 4 may be sold at Wal-mart Stores!

NO “grip-of-death”

iPhone 4: death grip
(image courtesy: CultOfMac)

The most unwanted but famous feature of iPhone 4 is the “grip-of-death” which drops call when you hold the phone “incorrectly”. It might scare off many potential iPhone-4-owner-wannabe.

So far, the responses from Malaysia iPhone users, who have owned iPhone 4 months before official launch, are possible that we have no significant drop call problems under local telco networks.

Good news? Yes.

What else is missing in Malaysia iPhone 4?

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  • http://financialindependent.blogspot.com/ ChampDog

    No free casing is bad…

  • Dom

    Checked out the iPhone 4 at the Maxis Centre in TTDI today – Maxis IS selling contract-free handsets (they call it outright purchase), but tied to a prepaid pack.

    Am tempted to get the 16GB …

    • http://www.liewcf.com/ LiewCF

      Hi Dom, do you have more information about Maxis contract free iPhone 4? I don’t find it on Maxis website.

      16GB might not be enough consider that the app size and camera resolution are much larger now…

      • http://twitter.com/gadiy Gadiy Lim

        Apparently the iData plan is the contract free one. I spoken to a Maxis rep about this. If you’ve checked the maxis website, you can only find iData 2 and 3. But not 1.

        The iData1 is where you purchase the phone by cash or card at the orig price and maxis will offer you a rm30 (250mb) contract that you can terminate anytime after the 1st month.

        why they do not put this up on their website? Well, they rather have us tied to a 1yr/2yr contract to suck us dry. Compared to purchasing it just like that. I think non-iPhone enthusiast will fall for traps like that. And I heard that YTL comms will be offering 4g connection service in the new future.

  • Guest

    In Taiwan, one of the 3 telcos are paying out of their own pocket for the the casing for their customers.Why cant we have our telcos to do the same thing?

  • http://www.itrush.com IT Rush

    Oh boy, hope this thing will not come the same in other places.. hope to hear more features and addons for free.

  • http://twitter.com/satkuru satkuru

    for the free casing, i think you can try using the AppStore app in the iPhone and search for ‘case program’. just make sure the address in your apple ID is the address in Malaysia cause they will use that address to send the case.

    as for the white iphone 4, most likely december or january.

    • http://www.liewcf.com/ LiewCF

      the app is not available in Malaysia AppStore

      • http://twitter.com/satkuru satkuru

        eh my bad. have to re-route it it singapore -_-! in fact had to create a singapore account and then only it worked. sigh it seems China is getting it for free too

  • http://twitter.com/LynxLee Daniel Lee

    I heard that the Apple iPhone 4 Antenna Gate is resolved via a new software update (fixed some algorithm or something). Maxis is only selling the new updated ones, so no free “cool” cases as it’s considered fixed already.

    • http://www.liewcf.com/ LiewCF

      Apple fixed the signal bar formula but not the grip (hardware) problem..

  • http://twitter.com/satkuru satkuru

    *duplicate

  • http://twitter.com/gadiy Gadiy Lim

    perhaps we should try emailing Steve himself about the iPhone4 case programme.

  • Cyril Dason

    iPhone in Malaysia is just too expensive. A direct import of the phone will only incure a RM200 import fee, and if you convert the price from USD to RM for the iPhone, you get a much cheaper phone (even if you do consider other cost).

    The government might have imposed additional taxes which we do no know off. Malaysia is simply left behind because of the policies made :-(

  • Anonymous

    what’s missing?

    cool factor. Samsung Galaxy S is still better by a country mile than this piece of rotten fruit. its the truth.

    why buy this when you are being shank in the gut my prophet jobs?

  • http://tehtarikkaki.com TehTarikKaki

    Maxis and and DiGi are not “consumer friendly”. They are very much profit oriented and the signals at times left much to be desired. And they charge so expensive in terms of call rates and now the iPhone aain — over priced. Has anyone complianed to MCMC and NCCC?

  • Shkhor

    I think “grip-of-death” is exist in Malaysia iPhone. I bought it from Digi, having “grip-of-death” problem.

    • http://www.liewcf.com/ LiewCF

      Wow.. Is the problem serious? Drop how many signal bars?

      – Sent from mobile device.

  • http://twitter.com/PhantomCLF CLF

    grip of death happens randomly but not all the time, so far this is what I noticed.

    btw can try create a foreign iTunes account (closest S’pore) and then try get the free case program app?

    • http://www.liewcf.com/ LiewCF

      yes, can try if you know how :)

  • http://tech.spshop.biz Eric Lau

    Wat to ask you, iphone or HTC ? Which one is better ?

  • http://antsuite.blogspot.com antsmail

    the grip of death is not evident in my ip 4 … in fact, most of the issues with network is really down to telco, be it sg mly or anywhere in the world

  • Pingback: How and Where to Get Contract Free iPhone 4 in Malaysia | Blogjer - Technology at a glance

  • scubarick

    Aiyah, nonid the free bumper lah. the grip of death problem hardly occurs, I’ve tried to induce it and so far no ‘success’. in any case you will probably get another casing of your choice and design sometime in the fiuture and then u will chuck the ‘free casing’ to one side anyway. Also the singapore free bumper offer applies to iphones delivered BY Sept. 30th. So right now they also won’t give u the free bumper/casing if u ordered it there.

  • ren

    I just bought my iPhone 4 from DiGi, and of course, I don’t have to sign up for a DiGi plan lol. btw, I’m Celcom user ;)

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