(Also see Mary Ellen Foster’s comments on this post below).
There have been very recent changes to how Wireless@SG registration works. As reported in the conference handbook and earlier on the website, international phone numbers used to be accepted for registration — this is no longer the case.
Registration confirmation and password are sent via SMS; local Singapore mobile phone numbers are required at the moment. We advise you to purchase a prepaid SIM card upon arrival to Singapore. The prepaid SIM cards for all 3 mobile operators are sold in a number of shops including convenience stores like 7-Eleven. Passport is required to purchase a SIM card. See the earlier post about hand phones for more information on obtaining a SIM card.
Miles Osbourne wrote in to ask about whether this means all conference participants will need a local mobile number to get wireless.
Sorry if the handbook and blog are not clear about this. The Wireless@SG mode of internet access, which is a country wide initiative, requires a local phone number for registration.
However, we *will* have local wireless for attendees in the local conference venue area. So you can be assured that you will be able to get a wireless connection despite not having a local phone number.
–Min
Comment by knmnyn — July 31, 2009 @ 10:06 pm
Also, there seem to be at least two other alternatives for registering with Wireless@SG:
1. At the airport information desk in Changi Airport (don’t know if this is temporary or airport-only, but they can register you at least)
2. When my (British) mobile roamed onto the SingTel network after I arrived, I got a text message inviting me to call a specific number to set up a Wireless@SG account (haven’t tried yet)
Comment by Mary Ellen Foster — August 2, 2009 @ 8:56 am