To Upgrade or Not?

[glitzy_dust]

Hi everyone. I am facing a dilemma on whether to upgrade my mobile plan or not. I wonder if people faced this dilemma when choosing to get a new phone or settling for a smaller 4G data bundle.

My Dad's current SingTel mobile contract will be due soon for re-contracting but I am wondering if he should re-contract. This is because of the higher subscription fees I would have to pay per month and a drop in the amount of free bundled data and local outgoing calls too. ($48.15/mth for 200mins of free outgoing calls and 12GB data and 500 SMSes compared to $59.90 for 200 minutes of free outgoing calls, 3GB of data and 900 SMSes).

I am wondering if he should just buy new mobile phones and not get them at lower rates when he recontract with SingTel (so as to keep my original plans). Can anyone advise me on these? I am quite keen on upgrading my phone because the best phone I have at home is a Samsung Galaxy S5830 (Galaxy Ace).

I am also thinking of applying for DataShare so that I can use my Dad's 12GB data while on-the-go since I am still using a 2G prepaid SIM card and buying data packages would not be economically-wise if I were to do go online more frequently.

In all, my dilemma can be summarized into 2 options:

Option A: Recontract, get a new phone.

Option B: Don't recontract, perhaps buy a new phone at U.P, apply for DataShare.

I hope I did not ask a stupid question... Can anyone advise me on this? Thanks!

 

[PauseZ]

it depends on ur usage (or projected usage) of data. Do you go over ur calling minutes/texts? IMO the important considerations are calling minutes and data. I personally use 6-8gb each month so no dilemma over here.

Besides, if you are getting older models (2012 or earlier), you won't save THAT much from recontracting either since the "discount" generally range between 100-300.

 

[glitzy_dust]

Hi PauseZ. Thank you for replying to my post. I see. That means you didn't recontract your plan?

Hmm.. I'll have to dig my Dad's past phone bills to look at the calling minutes. I remember he exceeds his 200 outgoing minutes at times. (Both the current and old plans give 200 minutes of free minutes.) As for data, he doesn't know how to use the Internet hence the mobile data is usually untouched. I use his data to tether to my laptop whenever we go out though. (I don't have a data plan.)

Is Samsung Galaxy S3 considered a phone model to be 2012 and earlier? Oh. And am I correct to say I can only get the phones shown in the brochures when I recontract? (for example, S3 is not featured in the brochure but I tell the person I want the phone).

What do you mean by "you won't save that much from recontracting either since the "discount" generally range between 100-300"? I thought $200+ is quite some 'savings'. Haha. Sorry. I am quite unfamiliar with this.. :/

May I also know where do people buy their (new) phones if they don't get them from mobile service providers?

Thank you for your guidance.

 

[lifeishard]

question is,do you intend to stay with Singtel? if yes then might as well recontract at earliest possible date unless you waiting for a particular model to come out coz anyway plan would become the new type once your dad existing contract finished 24th month even if he choose not to recontract all the way.

 

[glitzy_dust]

Hi lifeishard. Yes, I do intend to stay with SingTel due to the Multi-Line Saver.

Huh? There is such a rule? I didn't know that! Hmm.. if that's the case, I may have to consider recontracting then.

Just wondering, do they normally have promotions on National Day (excluding the current one that runs till 26 July 2013). Thanks.

 

[lifeishard]

not sure about their promo but i'm sure about the contract. Once it finished,your plan will become the new one but of course you are then free to jump ship if you choose to,all 3 telcos are the same. No way we can keep the 12gb forever.

 

[glitzy_dust]

Ah I see. Okay. Thanks for the information!

 

[cleodux]

not sure about their promo but i'm sure about the contract. Once it finished,your plan will become the new one but of course you are then free to jump ship if you choose to,all 3 telcos are the same. No way we can keep the 12gb forever.

Just some info. M1 allowed you to stick with your current plan. So long that you are not recontracting your plan. My hubby been told by M1 cso that if he choose not to recontracting his plan aka buy a new phone. He can still enjoy his unlimited data forever lol. Currently he is using sgs2.

I believe this because we have just so called recontracting our mobile broadband plan with the old plan. So my tab still have unlimited data (1mb) for around 15++ a month.

 

[glitzy_dust]

Hi cleodux. Thanks for replying. Wow. M1 is so nice. Hahas. I went down to SingTel's hello! shop but the CSO said that if he recontracts, it will follow the new plan..