If you were eyeballing the Nexus One clone the HTC Desire which was shown off at Mobile World Congress overnight and thinking, “Man, I want one of those slick puppies”, then you’re going to get your wish. Telstra this morning announced that they’ll be launching the Desire as their first Android handset in April this year.
The phone is going to be exclusive to the Big T in Australia, and no pricing has been announced just yet. The press release quotes Telstra CEO David Thodey as saying that the phone will: “Give Telstra customers the best of Google’s web services like Gmail, Google Calendar and applications like Mobile FOXTEL, as well as the unmatched combination of speed and coverage available on Telstra’s Next G network.”
Whether or not that means that the phone’s HTC Sense UI will be modified for Telstra (likely) or whether the network will release apps for its BigPond services, we’ll have to wait and see. Still, it’s about time Telstra jumped on board Android phones, and the Desire looks like a great place to start.
MDolley
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 11:28 AMI really hope Telstra realize that just because they can modify the software doesn’t mean they should. Rather than forcing Telstra services down the throats of consumers they should be developing world class apps that are not only optional, but also desirable. The only reason Telstra modifies the UI is because their services aren’t more compelling than the alternatives and they know that nobody will actively seek them out if they aren’t front and center.
Greg
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 6:26 PMYour rationale for why Telstra shouldn’t modify the UI explains exactly why they do.
trav
Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 9:12 AMYep, It’s unlikely that telstra will EVER produce world class software / services, their core competency is “default overpriced and under delivered” carrier.
justin
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 11:48 AMis this a good reason to move to Telstra? i always hear bad things about them but what are your thoughts? And im praying that they dont touch HTC’s sense, because if they do every time there is a new android update HTC will have to spend there time changing it for Australian users. Which i dont know how often they will wanna do that if ever
boing
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 12:20 PMfrom what i have heard telstra has the best coverage and its got 3.5g. The main problem telstra has is that its plans are too expensive and the inclusions are not as good as optus or voda.
if it follows current pricing trends you could be looking at a $80 a month (HTC HD2 plan) plan for the htc plus either upfront payment/monthly handset costs. had a quick glance at the details for that plan and it says $70 worth of calls/sms and $10 worth of data…whatever that means
moggyx
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 12:40 PMAwwww, Telstra…. exclusive for 3 months :(
Gray imports, here we come!!!!
Namarrgon
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 1:24 PMI have a Nexus One, just like this, and I love it.
The Nexus uses 2100/900MHz bands, so it’s not ideal for Telstra (not outside the city anyway). Presumably this Desire will also be offered as 2100/850MHz, if Telstra are selling it.
If you grey-import it, you’ll likely end up with the Asian standard of 2100/900MHz (which is preferred for Optus/Voda), so be aware of that.
Bern
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 5:34 PMWhen I saw this story this morning, I immediately went to the Telstra website to check out their plans – if the price was right, I’d be buying one of these. But I wont be, unless they make some significant changes to their plans between now and April.
delixe
Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7:52 PMIf you really like this phone i suggest you buy it outright and get a next-g prepaid sim and pay $10, $20 extra for the data….as smart phones are very data hungry.
David Anderton
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 9:07 PMDamned telstra, come on Virgin mobile, get one HTC android phone and i will be happy
Justin
Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 12:51 PMI second that, get it to Virgin asap :D
RJ
Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 11:04 AMInfo Below
Richard
Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 12:04 PMWhat does it mean to “grey-import” something? If I cuy this phone outright from Telstra, can I still use it on Optus or another carrier?
Ollie
Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 12:51 PMHey, if it’s Android it should be hackable anyway… just replace the Telstra OS =D
It’s the hardware we want anyway, as was said before, importing one you won’t have any luck with 3G reception outside Syd/Melb/Bris etc.
justin
Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 2:30 PMbut if you imported it would you really go to telstra? i for one would go to vodaphone,(which the full 3g coverage would work) im with 3 atm and im getting screwed with the data because it keeps going to roaming for no reason and its is not included in the data cap.
delixe
Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7:58 PMHere’s a question for you. I have an HTC Diamond Touch from Telstra and a 3 hutchison sim card. 3 also release this phone in australia too. Can i load to 3 firmware into this phone? As the problem is with the 3 sim card in it, I cant use data.
Mike
Friday, February 26, 2010 at 1:06 PMJust spoke to an Optus rep who said they’ll have it within 6 months for $0 on a $79 plan. Bit of a wait but at least it’s coming eventually!!
Wiseguy
Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 2:28 AMOptus are blocking access to the Android app store. So it’s not all good news.
costa
Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 4:06 AMhi there dont buy on optus or virgin because they block the android paid apps only telstra vodafone and 3 allow u to buy paid app from the android market
Mark
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 9:59 PMIf Optus etc block it, could we not link up an internet connection via a local WiFi hence bypassing the 3G blockage from the carrier ?
Justin
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 4:01 PMAnyone know the answer to Marks question?
Its still BS how they would block access to a paid apps store, if this because of licensing?
RJ
Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 11:04 AMAnswered Below.
Luke.
Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 8:48 PMhi guys just wanting to know im on virgin mobile at the moment..just wanted to know the Nexus One is it exactly the same as the HTC desire in specs wise and whats the difference? Also how would it run on the virgin network considering they use the optus network…? Would i get the speed as the desire. Im thinking of just buying one outright a nexus one from the net. What do you think i should do plz help :(
RJ
Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 11:03 AMSee Below
RJ
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 9:57 AMHey Guys,
Trying to answer some questions here…
Mark – Thats pretty possible but furthermore, I doubt costa’s comment is entriely true.
costa – A ‘block’ to the android paid apps would pretty much mean a block to the entire android store.
Optus and Virgin haven’t blocked anything you sped, They’re just developing processes with Android access now…Virgin haven’t had a multitude of Android phones before, so they’re developing the process of including all the features within their network.
Luke – The Nexus One and the Desire share *similar* specs…you can rate them both at http://www.gsmarena.com…they have full specs of the phones there as well as lengthy reviews of both.
Im on Virgin as well and we can support both phones, so an outright purchase would be the best bet as Telstra have the Desire exclusively for 3 months (although there is speculation that its 6).
There should be an option to buy the Telstra modded one and the normal Desire – although imunsure of the origins of the non-telstra one – perhaps Europe or Asia.
Hope ive covered everything?
Raf Dehombre
Monday, June 28, 2010 at 10:27 PMI have a HTC Desire great fast phone… Only one thing wrong…… Telstra got their hands & software on it….. So with my Optus sim card in it I can’t send or receive text messages that have a picture attached to it, I phone HTC & Optus and they can’t change setting or anything, I would have to move to Telstra for that function to work.
Other than than what a top phone.
Raf
John W
Friday, July 2, 2010 at 3:32 PMare you saying you can buy the Telstra Next G HTC Desire outright and unlocked? and the Optus SIM can work on it??