Telstra's Smart-Touch - how to Android at a smart price?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Tuesday, 15 March 2011 12:05

Your IT - Mobility

Telstra's first $99 Android-powered smartphone might lack the finesse of brand name and more expensive competitors, but when it comes to $999 iPhones, it's priced to win the wallets of price-sensitive pre-paid consumers.

Anyone who has ever thought that the Android platform would see Apple's competitors in a race to the pricing bottom has a new piece of evidence to back that claim: Telstra's first AUD $99 Android smartphone.

At this price, it's clear that you're not getting the very latest in operating systems, touch-screen technologies or other features, but at $99 for an iClone, it's certainly amazing what you can get for the money!

Telstra's Smart-Touch comes with the still more than good enough Android OS 2.1, despite the latest and greatest smartphones coming with Android OS 2.3, has a 2.8-inch resistive touch screen, has a built-in GPS so it can be used with Google's free GPS mapping navigation software, has a 3.2 megapixel stills camera with video recording capabilities, and an MP3 player and an FM radio.

Naturally the Smart-Touch is a Next G powered device, giving you Telstra's superior coverage and data speeds, along with separately paid access to Telstra's voluminous range of services, including services such as Foxtel Mobile and BigPond TV.

Available in the colours of 'midnight' or 'grape', the pre-paid handset release dovetails with better value pre-paid packages from Telstra, which is always a welcome sign. 

Telstra says that its improved deal means a doubling of data allowances across Cap+ and Weekend+ offers at 'no additional cost'.

Naturally, Telstra's executive director of its consumer division, Ms Rebekah O'Flaherty, was pumped to be pumping a pumping up of pre-paid packaging (say that ten times in quick succession), stating that: 'These are our most competitive Pre-Paid offers ever. 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 also had praise for the Smart-Touch Android handset, noting its affordability, compatibility with apps from Google's Android Market  and access to all those Google services.

Telstra is also seeking to boost its socially networked Tribe service which offers 'free-to-browse Facebook, Twitter and MySpace from a single, easy-to-use portal that can be accessed from a range of compatible mobiles within Australia.'

For more details including full pre-paid pricing plans and information, please visit Telstra's media release here.