Last week, we noted that several carriers in Singapore were working to offer camera-less iPhone 4S models for users whose professions prevented them from carrying camera-equipped mobile phones. With Singapore requiring all male citizens and many permanent residents to serve up to two years in the military, there is a significant market for camera-less phones in the country.
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CNET Asia now reports that Singapore carrier M1 has officially gone live with its camera-less iPhone 4 and 4S models on its website. As previously reported, the devices are standard iPhone 4 and 4S models which have seen both front and rear cameras removed by the carrier. The camera-free versions carry a S$49 premium over their standard counterparts, covering the camera removal process. The camera removal process also voids Apple's warranty on the device, and M1 is offering users the ability to purchase a separate one-year warranty through a third-party vendor.
Top Rated Comments
You check your cellphone at the door.
Have to be careful not to get one of these when I buy mine in Singapore, ooch, I better go to Malaysia, they are cheaper there.
Im from Singapore so let me clear up some stuff. Believe me, there is demand for a camera-less iphone here. All male citizens have to enlist in the military at from age 18 to 20, so theres a market for camera-less phones.
When we complete our military service at age 20, we are still held in the reserves and have to go back for 2 weeks training once a year or every two years till age 40. Obviously when we go back for training we cant use a camera phone. So you can imagine theres this huge market of males in Singapore who may want something like this.
Also, the iphone is very popular here. I vaguely recall reading somewhere that Singapore is either number 1 or 2 in the world in terms of percentage of iphone users. Im not an iphone user myself, but only because my company gave me a blackberry and I dont want two phones.
In some places they take away any electronics device that could have camera.
In other places it's on the honor system due to almost all phones have camera.
Is this even legal for carriers to do? Offering a modified product for sale without an included warranty that is. I know they can legally remove the cameras.
It's like if you bought an AMG Mercedes. You don't have a Mercedes warranty, you have an AMG warranty as Mercedes and AMG are two different companies. But pretend AMG didn't include a warranty and you had the "option" of buying one from "Joe's Discounts-R-Us Warranties". Just seems real shady.