Several decades ago, ordering coffee meant choosing from a pretty standard list: latte, long black, flat white, cappuccino. Nowadays, you’re able to customise your order. A venti caramel macchiato with skimmed milk, extra shot, and extra hot, please! While that might be one of the more pretentious orders you’ve read in a while, the point is you’re free to create that unique cup which satisfies your unique needs.
Similarly, if you’re looking for a truly personalised experience for your mobile plan in Singapore, look no further than M1. From M1 SIM-only Plans to mobile plans with devices, you have the power to decide what you want your monthly plan to be.
But with so many options to choose from, there are some vital questions you need to ask yourself to ensure you’re making the right decisions when designing your plan: SIM-only or phone? How much data? Are there any rewards?
We’ve taken the time to come up with a guide to help you answer these questions and more, as you create the mobile plan of your dreams that’ll leave your friends and family green with envy. Remember, the M1 mobile plan is so flexible, that you can always make changes to your plan the next month if you want to!
A SIM-only Plan or a Phone Plan?
Is it time to upgrade your current handset? Whether you’re a techie eyeing the latest release or a thrifty user holding on to your current device till it stops functioning (touch wood), everyone has his/her own reasons to consider getting a new phone. But a plan with a phone or a SIM-only plan? Now that is the question.
There are several reasons why you might want a plan with a phone. If you’ve damaged your current one badly; if your phone has become buggy with age; if the ‘turn it off and on’ trick doesn’t seem to fix glitches. For your sanity’s sake, it’s probably time to get something new. And a plan with a phone is probably the most convenient way to do just that.
However, if you find that you’d get a better deal buying a phone separately, or don’t even need to replace your current handset, then by all means, get a SIM-only Plan. It makes more sense.
Either way, you can enjoy an entire list of exclusive treats and privileges just by being an M1 Sunriser member!
But let’s say you are in the market for a new phone. Which one will suit you best? Let’s see how we can choose a phone that works best for you.
Choosing the right phone for you
Number one is whether you’d rather pay for everything upfront, or make your payment over a period of 12 to 36 months. If you can afford to fork out the amount at once so you no longer have to think about it, maybe pay for it in full. Otherwise, spreading out the cost over time can make life a lot easier – at M1, instalment plans for phones come interest-free!
Once you’ve made your decision, it’s time to think about the phone. These questions should help you narrow down your list:
1. Which Operating System (OS) do you prefer?
• iOS – Apple’s OS is straightforward and easy-to-use. And if you have other Apple products, pairing or synching the devices will be easy.
• Android – the OS on every phone other than iPhone, it is slightly more complex, but allows for greater customisation than iOS devices.
2. Do you need a long battery life?
Sure, wireless charging has made this less of an issue, but if you need constant access to your phone or you run battery-intensive apps, a long battery life is important. Even with a power bank, the convenience of having a phone which lasts longer cannot be denied.
Protip: when choosing a phone, check the milliamp hour (mAh) figure. Generally, the higher the number, the longer the battery life.
3. How important is network speed?
5G is (obviously) much faster than 4G, but you’ll need a phone with 5G capabilities to use it.
You’ll also need a plan with 5G speeds. At M1, you can get a Bespoke SIM-only Plan with 65GB of data (inclusive of a 5G Booster Pack with additional 25GB) at just $24.95/mth! Alternatively, M1 offers 5G Booster packs that can be paired with an M1 bespoke plan and 5G-compatible phone.
4. How good does the camera need to be?
If photo and video quality is your primary concern, you’ll need a phone with a decent camera. Look for one with a high number of megapixels, but also be sure it’s got the tech to back it up. Only then will your phone deliver top-notch shots and video in different lighting.
Honestly, with so many features available on the different handsets these days, it’s always a good idea to spend a bit of time reading through reviews on Google, especially ones which list down all the pros and cons of a particular phone. You’ll want to know those before making your purchase.
Now that you’ve decided which phone is perfect for you (or if you’re opting for a SIM-only plan instead), you’ve arrived at the point where you can think about the nitty-gritties of your data plan - how much data do you need?
How Much Data Do I Need?
Thankfully, we no longer have to wait 15 minutes for our 28.8kbps dial-up to connect to the internet, or an entire night for an image to download completely. In today’s world of instant content delivery, data is king, and if you really want to make the most of your device (read: you’re glued to your phone ~20 hours a day) you’ll need quite a reasonable cache of it.
On the other end of the spectrum are those who rarely - if ever - stream videos, and don’t spend hours a day browsing the web, gaming, or on social media. If you fall under this category, you shouldn’t have any issues getting by with a data plan which offers the bare minimum.
Anyone who finds themselves caught in the middle and is wondering how much data they should get for their plans, you might want to ask yourself:
1. How many streaming services do I use?
The pool of streaming services continues to expand. From Netflix to Spotify, Amazon Prime, HBO GO, and now Disney+, we’re devouring not just more content. We’re also consuming it faster. Go on, unlock your phone and count how many streaming apps you have installed.
2. How often do I use them?
Of course, just because you’ve got the app installed doesn’t necessarily mean you use it that much (or even at all). Be realistic about how often you use them when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi - the results may surprise you.
3. How much data do I actually use?
Many phones can show you precisely how much data you’ve used over a selected period of time, which will effectively give you the answer you need. Here’s how you can do it in iOS and Android:
- iOS: Go to Settings->Cellular. Scroll down to ‘Cellular Data’ or ‘Mobile Data’ (not the toggle at the top). It’ll show how much you’ve used for the current billing cycle. It won’t display the data used in previous months, but you’ll be able to find that on your bills.
- Android: Go to Settings->Network and Internet->Mobile network->App Data Usage. Then, use the drop-down dates to select different 30-day periods to learn how much you used each billing month.
Confused? Don’t be. When you decide to sign up for a Bespoke Flexi or Bespoke SIM-only Plan at M1, you’re free to increase (or decrease) your data allowance every month. So you can always adjust how much data you have to suit your needs.
Better yet, for greater convenience, download the My M1+ App! Users of the 2 bespoke plans can get useful information with a click of a button. Providing you with an estimate of your Data Usage (rounded up to the nearest MB), talk time (rounded up to the nearest minute), and SMS usage, bill shocks will be a thing of the past.
A few tips to keep your data usage down
If you’re still concerned that you don’t have enough data, here are some wonderful ways in which you can minimise how much data you use, especially if it’s almost the end of your billing cycle and you’ve used up most of your data:
• Make downloads and update apps only when on Wi-Fi: If you use maps to navigate, download the maps when you’ve access to Wi-Fi. Depending on your subscription, streaming services like Netflix might allow you to download content too. And if your apps need an update, do so only when connected to Wi-Fi.
• Stop background app data usage: Find out which of your apps use the most background data and, where possible, force-quit them (note: once you’ve turned off mobile data usage allowances for specific apps, you won’t receive notifications from the apps unless you’re connected to Wi-Fi). Here’s how you do it:
– iOS: settings->Cellular data (or Mobile data) and scroll down
– Android: settings->Network & Internet (or Connections)->Data Usage
• Set up data usage alerts: From the data section of both iOS and Android devices, there’s typically a feature which allows you to set up an alert for when you’ve used a certain amount of data during your billing cycle. Alternatively, M1 can set up SMS data usage alerts for you, free of charge too!
How Many Call Minutes Should I Go With?
To verify how many minutes you’ll need on average each month, have a look at your previous bills. Chances are, you’ll notice a trend. Based on this trend, you can roughly determine how many minutes you’ll need each month.
Granted, you might at times need more minutes than the previous month due to unforeseen circumstances. A no-contract M1 mobile plan might come in useful when such a situation arises. Simply select infinite minutes for that month and drop it back down the following month!
Are There Any Extras I Can Choose From?
Everyone has differing needs, which is why you’re free to choose from many great add-on mobile services that M1 has to offer:
• Need more data and/or talk time? There are Bundle Packs available at different prices to suit your needs and budget.
• If a chill weekend of video games and Netflix is what you seek, do exactly that with the Unlimited Weekend Data pack.
• For those who value their privacy and would rather go incognito, you can set your number to private on a call-by-call basis or permanently using caller number non-display.
• On the other hand, caller ID is perfect if you want to know exactly who’s on the line. Because spam calls are annoying.
• Have friends and family living abroad? Take advantage of IDD 021 Saver, which gives you 700 minutes a month for 021 international calls, so you can chat freely with loved ones in 19 different destinations around the world.
• Remember the free-of-charge Data Usage Alert service from M1? Keep track of just how much data you’ve used as the month progresses.
• If you’re a parent, consider blocking harmful content on devices your children use with Cyber Guardian.
• Finally, never worry about losing or damaging your phone again with FoneCare+.
Does My M1 SIM-only and Phone Plan Come With Any Perks & Rewards?
What’s better than the freedom and flexibility of an M1 SIM-only plan or phone plan? The rewards and freebies that come with it, like:
1. Happy birthday to you!
Birthdays are made more awesome with a bunch of freebies and perks just for you to celebrate in style. From a free outdoor family photo session to restaurant vouchers, seasonal deals await you on your birthday, accessible through the My M1+ App.
2. Sunriser surprises
What’s a Sunriser? When you sign up to a particular M1 mobile plan in Singapore and meet specific criteria, you’ll qualify to become a Sunriser— something you don’t want to miss out on. Perks include an annual $500 handset re-contract voucher, priority service in-store or over the phone, zero-cost phone delivery when you order online, free caller ID, free replacement SIM, 20% off vouchers for accessories, and more. It’s clear why being a Sunriser is great!
3. Family savings
On top of your existing Bespoke plans including sim only plans, you can add family Line.The more lines you add to your family, you will receive greater discounts.
In conclusion, you may share more than 400GB from $6 per line per month with your family members or across many devices thanks to the added data and savings.
New customers who sign up or port-in can take advantage of deals like receiving a Free OSIM uCozy 3D massager worth $199(while stocks last, terms and conditions apply) when they sign up a SIM only line plus 1 family line.
4. Corporate partners
Shopping for a new credit card? With our exclusive partner Citibank, we’ve come up with the Citi M1 card which gives you exclusive savings and rebates on your M1 bills.
Here’s to You, Being You.
As you can see, there are many reasons for you to craft your very own mobile plan with M1. Be it a SIM-only or one with a new phone, M1 bespoke plans are made just for you. Create yours today for unlimited freedom with the ultimate telecommunications service provider that considers your individual unique needs above all else.
*Terms & Conditions apply.
Information stated is accurate at time of publication.