Telstra has publicly launched its Third Generation phone and data service which it is rolling out thanks to a deal to piggyback on Hutchison’s Three network.
Leading with Australian Idol content as well as an existing portfolio of more than 200 i-mode content sites including video content from NRL, AFL, V8 Supercars, National Nine News, Sky News and movie trailers from yourMovies, Telstra’s advertising campaign will likely accelerate the take up of 3G phone services, prior to the Vodaphone/Optus service coming on-line later this year.Telstra’s Head of Pioneers Marketing, Mr Mike Robey, said the new Australian Idol video diaries would be added to the site as they became available and would be among a range of great new mobile phone content available from Telstra.
“These new high speed mobile services also offer Telstra customers new video features including video calling, video MessageBank and video ring tones,” Mr Robey said. “The launch of Telstra’s new mobile services represents a major shift in the way our customers can communicate and access information on their mobile phone.”
Subscribers will be able to send and receive email from their mobile phone using both Yahoo! and Telstra BigPond email accounts.
The network is available in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.
Telstra is giving customers a choice of four new handsets and two new capped plans. Customers who buy a 3G handset on a repayment option can take up the $49 and $79 cap plan with a $5 per month Mobile Surf and Email Pack and get up to $250 or $550 worth of standard voice calls, as well as MessageBank, and text messages. Both capped plans offer a two-month introductory free video call offer.
