How to get free wifi on your mobile in Singapore

When I was down in Singapore most recently, I did not relish the thought of incurring a crazy high phone bill, what with being used to the unlimited data I have on my Blackberry and all. Hunting around online gives you nothing in terms of whether free wifi is easily available in Singapore.

Everyone tells you that yes, Singapore has free wifi under the Wireless@SG programme but its not open to anyone without a Singapore phone number. You are therefore encouraged to buy a prepaid card and then use that to register for Wireless@SG – something stupid if you’re just there for a weekend.

Well, let me tell you that you CAN get free wireless in Singapore and you DO NOT need a Singapore number. I’m on Maxis (for now – if they keep effing up I’m switching next year) and Maxis’ partner in Singapore is Singtel.

Here’s what you have to do:-

• Ensure you are roaming on the Singtel network
• Dial *186 and press call – your phone will make a call and it will disconnect almost automatically
• You will then receive a text message giving you your username and password
• The username is usually your phone number @singtel e.g. +60121234567@singtel
• Search for available WIFI on your mobile and look for Wireless@SG
• Once you are connected to the network, open your browser. You will be directed to a page to login.
• Enter the username and password sent to you. Hit enter and you’re online!

The password is valid for 24 hours. The next day, just dial *186 again and repeat. You will have to keep logging in every time you move from place to place but if you are sitting in one spot for a while, you can use it just to check your mails or facebook or tweet or do whatever you do online.

And here’s where I have a rant about the supposedly “Free WiFI” available at eating places in Singapore. Over here in Malaysia, when they say “Free WiFi” its a wifi hotspot provided by the restaurant or cafe themselves. So you can usually just find the hotspot, and login using the free password or if its an open network then, just simply login.

But in Singapore, many eating places, cafes, shopping malls etc use Wireless@SG as their “free WiFi” service. Bit of a cheat if you ask me So you can’t go to Starbucks and enjoy free wifi as you do here – you must know how to log into Wireless@SG first.

Oh and my tip only works if you are using your phone to browse and go online. If you are using a computer, I’m no help.