Telstra is due to cut off its old CDMA mobile service in about two weeks’ time, and if you have not upgraded your mobile phone to a Next G network compatible phone, you will need to do so to stay connected.
Telstra encourages those living or travelling in rural Australia to be extra careful when selecting a Next G handset. To make the selection easier for consumers, Telstra has set up the “Blue Tick” program, which is designed to recognise the mobile phones that will work best in rural areas.
“There are now more than 30 handsets on Telstra’s Next G network, including seven that have the Blue Tick for recommended handheld use in rural areas,” said Telstra Country Wide Director, Gary Goldsworthy.
“With mobile phones, it’s not a case of ‘one size fits all’ and that’s why we introduced the world-first Blue Tick program – to help customers identify the handsets that will perform best in rural areas. No other mobile phone company offers this kind of service for its customers.
Handsets with the Blue Tick of approval include the Telstra Country Phone 165, LG TU 550, LG TU 500 (prepaid), Nokia N95, Samsung A412, Samsung A411 (prepaid), and the Sony Ericsson Z750i.
Mr Goldsworthy said several factors needed to be considered when customers migrated to the Telstra Next G network:
· Whether they need to maximise their coverage experience;
· Where they will be using the device – metropolitan areas, regional areas or rural areas within the Next G network coverage area; and
· Whether they will use it in handheld mode or in a car with either a directly coupled car kit or patch lead and external antenna.
“As with any mobile network, coverage on the Next G network depends on where a person is, what particular handset that person is using and whether that handset has an external antenna attached.
“For example, CDMA customers should do a ‘like for like’ upgrade by ensuring that if they are using a car kit or external antenna with their CDMA device, then they also use a car kit with a directly coupled external antenna with their new Next G device.
See: www.telstra.com.au
