Telstra to release $99 Android smartphone

Telstra to release $99 Android smartphone

Telstra is set to release a new Android-powered smartphone, the Telstra Smart-Touch, which will retail for just $99.

The Telstra Smart-Touch will be available to pre-paid customers, with no fixed-term contracts to sign. It's being billed as the first smartphone to break the $100 barrier in Australia.

The Smart-Touch runs on the Android 2.1 operating system and boasts some impressive features for the asking price, including Wi-Fi, GPS for navigation, a 3.2 megapixel camera with video recording and Bluetooth connectivity.

Telstra Consumer Executive Director, Ms Rebekah O’Flaherty said: “The Smart-Touch is an affordable way for our Pre-Paid customers to access and enjoy features like mobile web-browsing, social networking and email.”

The Telstra Smart-Touch comes with a 2.8in display and has a quoted talk time of 150 minutes.

Here's a full list of specs:

OS Android 2.1
Touchscreen Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Speakerphone Yes
Display size
2.8in
Memory card slot
MicroSD
Included memory
2GB
Radio FM
MP3 player Yes
HSCSD
No
HSDPA
Yes
Netwok UMTS
850/2100 GSM: 850/900/1800/1900
Connectivity
USB
Standby time Up to 200 hours
Talkback time Up to 150 minutes

Telstra will also be upping the data and credit allowances on some of its Pre-Paid offerings. At no additional cost, the company will double data allowances across its Cap+ and Weekend+ offers,

“For customers on our new $50 Weekend+ offer, this means free standard national talk and text every weekend, along with $400 total value – a 300 per cent increase on the previous allowance – and 2GB of data, which is 20 times higher than before,” Ms O’Flaherty said. 

Telstra Pre-Paid customers who recharge $20 or more will also gain free access to Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

The Telstra Smart-Touch phone will be available from Tuesday 22 March.

Click here for further details.

Source: Copyright © PC & Tech Authority. All rights reserved.

See more about:  telstra  |  smartphones  |  android
 
 
Comments: 4
photohounds
15 March 2011
Hmm, proves the ubiquity that Android OS is becoming - at ALL price points. Smart tyo get in at the ground floor, building Android skills in the overall use4r base.

I guess there'll be a flurry of drivel as to why it's "not as good as A, B, or C."
Let's face it $100 makes it great! All it has to do is work reasonably well, and I've seen no unbiased evidence to suggest that will not be the case.

The little robot is set to give the competing systems another hiding.

I wonder if Nokia still believe a switch to WP7 was a good choice, given they admit it is "a risk" in other recent PCA news?



Comment made about the PC & Tech Authority article:
Telstra to release $99 Android smartphone ?
Telstra is set to release a new Android-powered smartphone, the Telstra Smart-Touch, which will retail for just $99.



What do you think? Join the discussion.
smadge1
15 March 2011
In fact, I've decided to buy one to replace my aging Sony Ericsson W810i phone. I already own a T-Touch Tab, but it's prepaid data plan sucks for voice calls. (ie, $10 credit is lame)
firefox
15 March 2011
Just letting you know, the Huawei IDEOS U8150 already broke that barrier, and has Android 2.2 to boot..
http://www.crazyjohns.com.au/huawei-ideos-bl/
Sniper
15 March 2011
The Ideos 8150 is an awesome touch/smart phone for the price and has dropped in price from $149 at Xmas time to $99 now a simply amazing phone at that price point.
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