It’s been 365 days since the Apple iPhone landed in Malaysia. As you may already have heard and seen, iPhone 3G is now in Malaysia. However, it’s not officially brought in by Apple and sold at Apple Malaysia resellers. And despite rumours of Maxis bringing the iPhone 3G to Malaysia, it remains a rumour only.
If you’ve waited and waited and waited even longer, stop waiting. The price for the iPhone isn’t dropping in Malaysia unless it’s a second-hand or older generation iPhone in Malaysia - my 4GB iPhone. Back then, average price of an iPhone in Malaysia ranged from RM1800-3500. Now, my reseller has shared the iPhone 3G price in Malaysia is between RM3000-3500. Indeed, it’s more expensive but one of the things he did share with me is it does NOT require TurboSim.
TurboSim is an external sim device iPhones have been using to unlock and get the working in Malaysia. The short history of TurboSim is it was an iPhone unlocking method without messing with the software. Therefore, you’ll find some Apple iPhone 3G resellers in Malaysia offering unlocked iPhones using this method.
What’s the difference between using TurboSim to unlock and purchasing an unlocked iPhone? Well, you’ll have to purchase TurboSim additionally with the iPhone. This means it’s an added cost. Though some Apple iPhone resellers in Malaysia have lumped in the cost for the TurboSim already. I can’t share any further disadvantages because I’ve not used it before.
Anyway, my Apple iPhone reseller in Malaysia has updated me he’s now got limited stock for the iPhone 3G in Malaysia. He’s got them in either black or white. As for the Apple iPhone 3G price, you’ll be looking at:
RM 2900 - 8GB Apple iPhone 3G
RM 3500 - 16GB Apple iPhone 3G
He has also made it clear to me. New iPhone 3G Malaysia owners who purchase these iPhone 3G units from him needn’t worry about support because you can update via iTunes on your own. I believe because it’s an originally unlocked iPhone 3G in Malaysia, you won’t have to worry about it being locked again.
Plus, purchasing the iPhone 3G in Malaysia from him have these additional benefits:
- No need to use TurboSim
- No need to cut your simcard (for TurboSim)
- No risk of damaging your iPhone simcard tray
- Fully upgradable by yourself through iTunes
- Unlock will remain forever
- Full Apple warranty
- Can purchase Apple Care protection for extended warranty from Apple
And to use the iPhone 3G in Malaysia, all you have to do is:
- Put your simcard (ANY SIMCARD) into your iPhone 3G.
- Connect to iTunes.
- Activate your iPhone 3G!
As I’ve mentioned, he’s only got limited Apple iPhone 3G phones in Malaysia. So if you’d like to own an Apple iPhone 3G in Malaysia now instead of waiting, do let me know. 
P.S: He showed me the Apple iPhone 3G streaming on YouTube was faster than his office WiFi. He’s on the Maxis 3G plan if you’re wondering.
