Telstra Unveils The T-Hub… Does Anybody Want One?
If it wasn’t for the fact that I need a home phone line for ADSL (I can’t get Naked at my exchange), I would have dumped my home landline years ago. The T-Hub, which was shown off at the Telstra Investor Day yesterday and also popped up on their intranet, doesn’t really make me want to hang on to the legacy landline option…
The T-Hub is a device that connects your Telstra home phone and your Telstra Broadband wirelessly, and features a 7-inch LCD touchscreen that allows you to jump on board a whole heap of Sensis based services.
From the Telstra staff Intranet description:
Customers will be able to make calls easily scrolling through their contact list and pressing “Call”. Or if a plumber is needed, click to search Yellow Pages online and select the number to call. Enjoy the added convenience of sending SMS to mobile numbers on the Telstra network and to most Australian fixed numbers, or checking the weather forecast, or scheduling family events and appointments on the electronic calendar.
The memo also describes the T-Hub as a potential photo frame or internet radio player.
The device is supposed to be available in the “coming months”. But from reading through that description, there doesn’t seem to be any killer feature that my mobile phone or laptop can’t do just as easily. Although maybe if Telstra do follow through on their promise to drop pricing, it might come part of a bundle option? Would that sway opinions?
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Comments
I think it has potential. Especially since the people who stick with Telstra are (according to my observations) luddites who find it easier to stick with a name they “trust” … some of which still call the company Telecom. I can see some of the older members of my family calling me, and if i tell them about something, or place. They can access their t-hub thingy without going through the standard “FrierFox… whats that?” dance. It all depends of how easy it is to use…
i like the idea. i dislike the company.
i like the idea. i like the affect on the share price.
I think it’d look cool on the kitchen bench. I assume it’d work with Telstra as Carrier, Node as ISP.
Poor Telstra. Everybody hates them. They just admitted to charging a bit too much. And even Telstra-users gets badged Luddites.
Well, I’m with Telstra. And, as surprising as this sounds, I don’t destroy machinery as Luddites are wont to do. I have however been tolerating the prices of my communication services (ADSL2+, Telstra NextG, and to an extent Foxtel) because the services work. Thats right. They function as they should with a quality well above comparable services (at least in my experiences).
And thats how communication should be—it should work. Like picking up a phone and dialling. Like playing Gears of War with dudes in Canada. Like d/l-ing Californication S03E5 in 5 minutes. Like 3G connection when I need it (so I can Twitter, you know). It just works Without having to adjust your settings to reduce jitter or latency-times. Without having to reset the modem every 2 days.
While this device isn’t for me, it is another (good) channel to help the less tech-au-fait (read more Luddite-ish) swim over to the big(ger) pond.
Can’t resist. Internode is not the cheapest but is wayyy cheaper than anything comparable from Telstra. I’ve used ‘node for 4 or 5 years. For me everything has “just worked”.
When I’ve needed them talking to their techs is like working with your expert mate.
Their owner and CEO comments and answers questions (and the main staff) on Whirlpool. Not surprising that they are well liked – but they also spend their money on new tech, new connections to the US. I use a separate VOIP but nodephone also has a v good rep.
Telstra are trying to make wireless broadband more palatable for those sad souls who can’t get ADSL let alone ADSL2+ or Naked ADSL. Why is that? Because Telstra refuse to upgrade existing exchanges with modern equipment. Why do that when the NBN will do it for them in 10 years or so.
Yes there are still large segments of Melbourne who have only dial up or wireless broadband, who you might ask? Try the electorate of the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, these sad souls have to put up with substandard services.
I would buy one as soon as they go on sale.Thats if they let current customers buy it
My Wife is a mad keen Telstra nut. I’m still in trouble for selling our Telstra shares. She wanted to keep them out of loyality to Telstra. She will want your T-Hub for sure.