Telstra says Palm's Treo Pro is the first smartphone on the Next G network to score its "Blue Tick"  good coverage in rural and regional areas as well as metropolitcan areas. The news comes as the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman reports that complainsts about Telco's is up 75%. 

Telstra Country Wide MD Geoff Booth says: "Customers will be able to stay connected to their work and personal lives with access to e-mail, calendar, contacts and the Web in more places across Australia. Business users will enjoy the benefits of Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1. "The Treo Pro is the ninth handset and first smartphone to be awarded the Telstra blue tick of approval on our Next G network." The Treo Pro retails for $929 and will be shortly available on a range of plans.

Complaints about phone companies are up 75 percent in a year, despite government jawboning telcos to lifts their game. "Getting the runaround" was one of the most common complaints.

In the year to March, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has handled 232,869 complaints. Many complaints are about multiple issues ­ on track to rise 42 percent to 145,000 in the 2007-08 financial year.

Ombudsman Deirdre O'Donnell reported her budget has almost doubled to $19 million, with staff numbers up from 90 to 170.