Telstra has today opened the first of 67 new business centres around Australia where it says it will provide local face-to-face help for small businesses faced with the difficulties of the economic downturn.

Telstra’s business group managing director, Deena Shiff, said today another 20 business centres would be opened by the end of 2009 and a further 30 would be opened next year.

Shiff said the new regional business centres would demonstrate the latest technology solutions to help small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) access latest the technology and become more efficient.

“Telstra knows from our long-standing relationships with business customers that the survivors of economic downturns are those that make the best use of new technology, and we think the time is right to step up the level of help and advice Telstra provides by opening the doors of specialist business centres around the country.”

According to Shiff, the well-positioned centres would demonstrate a complete range of business technology and solutions ranging from mobile phones through to more complex office phone systems, with specially trained staff on hand to give live demonstrations and “take the complexity out of buying communications technology.”

Telstra business is absolutely committed to supporting business solutions where small business operates," added Shiff.

The 17 new Telstra business centres opening over the next month are
• Inner East Melbourne, Malvern March 31
• Parramatta and West Sydney Merrylands April 2
• New England / North West NSW Tamworth April 2
• Eastern Suburbs Sydney Paddington April 6
• Northern VIC Shepparton April 7
• Inner City South Melbourne Port Melbourne April 8
• South West Sydney Macarthur Square April 8
• Strathfield/ Burwood City Rhodes April 8
• Gold Coast Helensvale April 14
• Central Coast & Hunter Valley and Newcastle East Maitland April 22
• Outer North Melbourne Epping April 22
• Inner West Melbourne Sunshine April 23
• Gippsland Pakenham April 24
• Northern Territory Darwin April 27
• South West WA Albany April 29
• Sunshine Coast Caloundra April 29
• Lower North Shore Sydney North Sydney May 14