Telstra has launched a new Android smartphone aimed at the pre-paid market, branded the Telstra Smart-Touch. Featuring mobile web browsing, social networking and email, the device runs on the Android 2.1 operating system, and offers HSDPA connectivity, Wi-Fi, GPS and a 3.2 megapixel camera. Telstra has also doubled data allowances across its Cap+ and Weekend+ pre-paid offers, at no additional cost.

With smartphone popularity soaring, Telstra is upping the included data and credit on some of its most popular Pre-Paid offers and launching its cheapest ever Android™-powered smartphone.

Telstra Consumer Executive Director, Ms Rebekah O’Flaherty said the nation’s love affair with smartphones had gone Pre-Paid, prompting Telstra to double data allowances across its Cap+ and Weekend+ offers, at no additional cost.
“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 said. 

To complement the increased inclusions, Telstra is launching the Telstra Smart-Touch™ – the telco’s first-ever Android™-powered smartphone to break the $100 price barrier.

“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.
“Combining great looks, integrated Google services like Gmail™ and Google Maps™ and fun multimedia features, customers can also personalise the Smart-Touch™ by selecting from thousands of apps from the Android Market ™ – including games, music and fitness apps," Ms O’Flaherty said.
Despite its $99 price tag, the Smart-Touch™ boasts big features including Android 2.1 operating software, Wi-Fi, GPS for navigation and a 3.2 megapixel camera. It arrives in-store on Tuesday 22 March.

“We think our new pricing and the introduction of the new Telstra Smart-Touch™ will make owning a smartphone and enjoying Australia’s largest and fastest mobile network more affordable than ever,” Ms O’Flaherty said.

As well as benefitting from superior Next G® network connectivity, Telstra Pre-Paid customers who recharge $20 or more can also use Tribe®, a social networking service that 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.

With Telstra’s refreshed Pre-Paid Cap+ and Weekend+ offers, customers enjoy:

• Great recharge value – customers on the Pre-Paid+ $40 offer enjoy $550 total credit, which is almost double the previous included value, along with 800MB of bonus data (a 500MB increase) – all to use in Australia in 30 days.
• Rollover credit – for example, recharge within 30 days and any unused recharge credit automatically rolls over for another thirty days.
• Ease of use – Telstra offers great Pre-Paid benefits, such as no bills or fixed term contracts. Account history, balance and recharge history can easily be viewed from the customers’ desktop or directly from a mobile phone too.

Telstra Pre-Paid Cap+ offer

Bonus Cap+ credit can be used to make standard national calls/SMS to Australian and International numbers.
Telstra Pre-Paid Weekend+ offer

Bonus Any Day+ credit can be used to make standard national calls/SMS to Australian and International numbers. Weekend free for all is for standard national calls/SMS to Australian numbers.

For full details on the Telstra Pre-Paid offers, visit: www.telstra.com/prepaid