Some must-have users bought it in Hong Kong, where it was launched on July 11. Its official debut in Singapore is expected to be before the end of September.

Those in Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and New Zealand were the first in the Asia-Pacific market to buy the new-generation iPhone 3G. Singapore could be in the next wave.

Loyal iPhone fans have either gone to Hong Kong or asked friends going there to buy the phone for them.

In Hong Kong, the highly anticipated touch-screen device will cost Singaporeans about $1,600. This is the no-contract price.

Hong Kong buyers who sign up for the cheapest monthly plan of HK$188 (S$33) pay HK$2,938 for the handset.

Key reasons for the much coveted gizmo's high price are its limited stocks and Hong Kong retailers wanting to attach a premium to it.

Die-hard fan Paddy Tan, 33, who went to Hong Kong to buy the phone, had fretted that it would not work here. But he made a successful call after he inserted his M1 SIM card in it.

This is because there is no need to 'hack' this new version, unlike the first-generation iPhone which was configured for exclusive deals with telcos like AT&T in the United States.

But consumers should be aware that the iPhone 3G sold in other countries like Japan may be 'locked' and will not work with Singapore SIM cards.

There are an estimated 60,000 users of the first-generation iPhone here.

Since SingTel opened its priority list for people wanting to buy the iPhone 3G, tens of thousands have signed up.

The phone's sleek and slender design, plus its ease of use, makes it a must-have for fans. It also has a large screen.

Since the first version's initial appearance in June last year, over six million have been sold globally. Mr Tan, a software developer, had planned to buy 50 units of the iPhone 3G for friends and relatives. But the price put him off and he bought only two for himself.

As an accredited iPhone developer, he needs to know the workings of the new iPhone. His software PhoneBak, an anti-theft program for cellphones, is being approved by Apple for use on the iPhone 3G.

Mr Tan was the first person in Singapore to own the first generation touch-screen iPhone after its US launch. He had his friends there buy seven units - at $2,500 each - on the first day of sale.

Other smartphone users, such as Miss Jodie Choo, like it too but are unwilling to pay the steep price for it in Hong Kong. 'Other touch-screen phones are much cheaper,' said Miss Choo, 42, who works in a bank.

Such comments are music to the ears of rival handset makers like HTC and Samsung. They have fired the first salvo with their touch-screen handsets, the HTC Touch Diamond and Samsung Omnia, which hit the shelves here a few weeks ago and are now sold out.

Their ease of use may not be as good as the iPhone's, but some of their features top Apple's gizmo. For example, HTC and Samsung's phones have 5-megapixel cameras compared to the iPhone 3G's 2-megapixel one.

Regardless, Mr Lee Risk, director of research firm GfK, believed that the iPhone 3G's arrival in Singapore can only expand the already rapidly growing smartphone market.

Smartphones have computer-like elements which allow users to send e-mail, browse the Web and play video clips.

He said that last year, about 2.3 million cellphones were sold in Singapore, and 8 per cent were smartphones. 'This year, we estimate 2.5 million cellphones will be sold but I think the smartphone market will grow faster,' he said.

The next wave of iPhone 3G is expected on Aug 22 when Apple will fill store shelves in 20 other countries. It has not released the new list.

SingTel will be the first telco here to sell the iPhone 3G. Earlier press reports said that StarHub and M1 are in talks with Apple and will offer the phone before Christmas.

SingTel has not released any price plans. One option could be a high handset cost with a low monthly fee which includes a certain amount of free talk time, SMS and data to be downloaded.

chngkeg@sph.com.sg

Would you pay $1,600 for an iPhone 3G? Send your views to suntimes@sph.com.sg

SLIMMER, LIGHTER AND FASTER

A major aesthetic change is the back cover, which is now made of plastic; the old one had a metal finish. Smudges, though, still show up on the back easily.

Apple has improved the sound, so that conversations are clearer and the music sounds richer.

For users who do not like the glare of white light, the iPhone 3G appears to have a warmer ambient light.

As the name suggests, the new iPhone is 3G-enabled. Accessing a webpage takes about a minute, half that of the old iPhone.

App Store, a special online store for third-party applications, is likely to be the iPhone 3G's killer app. Users can get free or buy third-party applications such as games, and health and fitness programs for as low as US$1 (S$1.36).

Like the old iPhone, there are two models: 8GB and 16GB. For the new iPhone, the 8GB comes in black, while the other model comes in both black and white.

Grace Chng