Telstra to offer Acer netbooks & laptop with embedded 3G modems

Stuart Corner
Monday, 10 August 2009 02:53

IT Industry - Strategy

Telstra has struck a deal with Acer under which it will sell two Aspire One 10 inch (25cm) Netbooks and the 14 inch Aspire 4810T Timeline notebook computer with embedded HSPA modems.


The 4810T is claimed to run for up to eight hours from its battery. According to Telstra Consumer executive director, Glenice Maclellan, Telstra worked with Acer to make sure that connecting the computers to the Internet would be quick and simple. "They're able to leave a participating T[Life] store with their device set up allowing them to start surfing the internet straight away," Maclellan said.

According to Telstra Product Management executive director, Ross Fielding, "All devices come with Telstra's MyPlace application, which provides step-by-step assistance on set-up and connection, as well as easy access to key Telstra and BigPond services, including email, search, maps, news and more.

MyPlace is an application which at present runs only on cellphones and which presents a menu of Telstra online services and applications. Business customers can easily use the devices to access the T-Suite range of applications offered under a software as a service model for a fixed monthly fee per application.

The Acer netbooks and notebook are available for $0 upfront payment on a $39 data plan with monthly laptop repayments starting from $30.38 per month over 24 months.

The only other mobile operator in Australia presently offering laptops with embedded modems is Vodafone which offers a Dell mini Notebook with embedded modem for $20 per month or as a bundle with a monthly mobile broadband plan including 5GB of data for $59.95 per month over 24 months.