This post is my personal opinion and research. If you’re a smart consumer, please read what I have to say. If you have comments, I welcome them. I’ll keep this as short as possible.
You might be thinking why I wrote this. It’s definitely not to pull any service provider down. Let me share them.
- I am a SingTel customer, I’ve got a BlackBerry and need BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS).
- I am also a StarHub customer and I have another BlackBerry service activated.
An hour ago, I called SingTel to enquire about their BlackBerry plans. I was told that their BlackBerry Flexi plans cannot be ‘activated‘ and must be signed as a plan. So that means I have to wait till next year to recontract. Next, I was offered 3 plans – 1GB, 3GB and the Unlimited plan. Briefed about the prices and was told 1GB doesn’t include any web surfing and 3GB can surf web but only via BlackBerry APN.
Read more after the jump!
The keyword – BlackBerry APN. So I went on to ask if I were to use maybe BOLT Browser, will I be charged? “Yes… Blah blah blah”. And next I asked “Does that mean I’m losing out?” and I got “Yes, blah blah” for an answer. Seriously, was that staff trained?
For everyone’s advantage, I’ve made the chart below for your comparison. It’s for your reference before you consider signing up with SingTel / M1 / StarHub.
Summary
- It’s unfair to compare SingTel’s 1GB plan with M1/StarHub’s. But for another $3 with StarHub/M1, you get more value on your BlackBerry device.
- WARNING: SingTel’s 3GB bundled data covers only BlackBerry APN.
- WARNING: SingTel does NOT cap your data usage.
Review: StarHub’s BlackBerry Premium Value-Added Service
For almost a year, I’ve been using StarHub’s BIS with no problems. Speed is satisfactory and I don’t remember any downtime. There was once or twice when the outage was at RIM’s side – StarHub shouldn’t be blamed for this.
The only thing I don’t like is the unstated data usage on my bill. It’s only reflected as “BlackBerry Premium”. Good thing is I don’t exceed my 1GB usage. So it doesn’t really affect my service usage satisfaction.
Are you a SingTel BlackBerry user? Drop your feedback here and hopefully SingTel hears/sees them!
i agree. im a singtel 3gb bis user. initially i went down to a singtel exclusive retailer store to get my bold2 with a Corporate plan (CIS). i was told that it’s possible to use internet using 3g flexi 12gb databundle. so i took up 3g flexi plan. somehow i found out the truth but they wont allow me to change the plan, so i took up the 1gb BIS. (not knowing that 1gb could not do much, and the CSO did not highlight any different between 1gb n 3gb)
a week later. i got jealous of my girlfriend’s m1 1gb bis plan. she could use and access all the bb apps while i was stuck with only stupid IM and push mail only. no bb apps world and internet browsing. it was as though i fell into a traphole set by singtel and there was no turning back.
i called the customer service line quite a number of times. and each time the CSO gave me different answer, which gives me an impression that they are not even sure of their service plans. i went on to lodge a complaint. and finally they gave in, changed my plans to CIS itwo value with 3gb BIS.
a month later, my shocking $480+ bill came. so i called the billing service line. and according to them. it was because i used the 1gb bis for internet surfing. so i told them i was an uninformed consumer. after a few working days they called back and rebates me a good $200+ which is still not good enough! after a few more call up to the CS line. the bill was back to normal.
some points to suggest:
-singtel should inform/train their CSO more specifically in their product services. so there would not be any contradict information.
-list out the benefits and difference between plans clearly. not hiding any information that affects the consumer decision
-im not sure what kind of marketing strategy singtel is going for but obviously everyone will choose starhub/m1 over singtel for 1GB bis.
im quite satisfied with the efficiency of Singtel CSO and their mobile service. however, they should put in more effort in BIS as i believe there will be more BB users coming up.
its a naggy, draggy long comment lol.
If you think SingTel doesn’t care about you, move onto StarHub or M1. Both ISPs provide better services as compared.
Okay, I called to activate my BIS 3GB yesterday.
After 24 hours today, I called back since my service isn’t up yet.
1st call, I was told it’s connected. No problems. So they told me to off my mobile for 5 mins and on again. I requested for a service reset – I wonder if they did it for me.
2nd call, I was told it’s still pending. I made her check again since her colleague earlier on told me it was already “Connected” when I don’t get any BIS. Now, I’m on hold for quite awhile already.
Earlier on I spoke to “Slim”. Now it’s “Malini”. Malini now told me it’s activated.
The explanation was that the service was activated at RIM’s side but not at SingTel’s side. Whichever staff did only half the job should be fired.
And whoever Slim was, should be fired too, telling me it’s connected when it’s not even fully activated.
I’ve also been using StarHub’s BIS for almost 3 months and my surfing experience is just the same with you. I think they are the better than SingTel.
I wish I can change to M1/Starhub. You should have warned. I could switch. Now my 48BUCKS/MONTH is so freaking ex!
Totally agree on everything u guys say. I’m using singtel 3gb plan, which I think it is too expensive and the best part is 1gb can only access to email n msn. wtf. Do we need 1gv to check n chat on msn? Waiting for 1 year to upgrade my phone or better still 2yrs to change service provider! Ha
a bit of a complicated question – i have a starhub blackberry with a data plan.
i also have another blackberry with singtel where i get my office email.
is it possible for me to put my starhub sim into my office (singtel)blackberry and still get office email on it? do i need to change any settings?
i tried it and does not seem to work. i can surf the internet tho without any problems.
Singtel obviously didn’t train their staffs well enough.
Knowing nothing about all these Blackberry plans / iPhone plans / Mobile plans or whatsoever, I headed down to a Singtel Store for enquiry as well as upgrade whatever plan which suits me the best.
First, the staff told me that 1gb mobile plan for ANY phone is more than enough to surf the net. So I was like, alright cool, I’ll take that. Then so when I asked her about the bbm, her face changed and said “why you never tell me you wanna sign up with BB plan?” I was like, “Hey come on, I dont know anything about it thats why I’m here to enquire, you should at least tell me what kind of mobile plans Singtel has.” Obviously, she became unhappy.
So ultimately, I signed up for 3GB BIS because she said “THERES NO 1GB BIS”. I’m fine with it because I had no choice as this is the only piece of information she provided me with. LOL ?
Fine, after 3 ridiculous working days, my blackberry was finally activated! BBM was working well and all but browser wasn’t working. I called up and checked. They said because I registered for the 1gb BIS. Obviously I didn’t and I do have the piece of paper bill which clearly stated 3GB BIS. They asked me to wait for 3-4 hours while they reactivate it again.
Apparently, I waited for 2 FULL days, browser still doesnt work. So I phoned the technical support hotline for assistance, again. This time, he tells me to approach any HELLO! store for assistance, they will be able to help me. Immediately, I went down to the nearest one available.
I queued up, and finally got to my turn, the guy said that my plan is a 1gb BIS plan. So when I asked what should I do now, he said, “Oh! why not you go back home and phone the technical support for help, see what they can do.” This time I was really, pissed off. I told him, everything you all ask me to do is wait. First, I waited 3 days, then few hours then days then now you ask me to call and wait again? He could tell I was quite pissed already so he gave me a queue number for assistance.
Thankfully, the guy assisting me, provided me with all the information that I needed. I was then being told that the system registered me under 1gb BIS, so what he needed to do was to change it to 3gb BIS and he will do all the neccessary to make my bb work ASAP. So much trouble just for 1 blackberry -_-