Singapore Telecommunications, one of Asia’s largest phone company, cut some subscription plans for Apple’s iPhone by half to lure users before rivals start offering the phone, it was reported by several sources.

Subscription prices on the monthly iFlexi plans will be cut by 50 per cent for three months, according to an announcement on the communication company’s website.

Customers who get the iPhone are required to sign up for a two-year contract, with plans ranging from $56 to $205 (USD) a month, according to the website, and competition to sell the touch- screen iPhone in the city-state has been heating up.

Rivals StarHub and MobileOne have said they intend offering the handset in Singapore by the end of the year, which more than likely prompted the company to offer the discount.

The company has indicated it had sold ‘tens of thousands’ of the iPhone, making it one of its ‘fastest selling phones ever’ in the region.