All the other telcos are doing it, so why not Telstra? The Big T has today announced a pocket Wi-Fi device that uses NextG to give you a hotspot wherever you go.
Launching October 26, the prepaid device will cost $149, which includes 5GB of data with a 90 day expiry. After that initial allotment, recharging data will cost the same as the rest of their pre-paid lineup.
If you were hoping for 21Mbps speeds though, sadly you won’t be getting it – the device is rated at HSPA speeds, meaning you’ll get real world speeds of up to 3Mbps.
Adam
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 11:57 AMcan’t you just change the SIM and use your data pack?
Brendan
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 12:39 PMDoesn’t FroYo allow you to do the same thing with your Android phone?
I know the Galaxy already has this capability/app on 2.1
glennc
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 1:36 PMhotspot for how many devices? Netcomm have a similar device with up to 10 devices connected at once
Nathan Millson
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 2:00 PMsource?
ubetido
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 2:01 PMMmmm $149 bucks for something my old Palm Treo Pro can do already. Fail !
T2
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 3:37 PMTelstra are experts a selling aging technology at an inflated prices to consumers unwilling to move into the 21st century.
How on earth does this fit with their business model…?
simon c
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 3:55 PMhttp://www.telstra.com.au/bigpond-internet/prepaid-mobile-broadband/rates/index.htm
Data is expensive. Not happy Jan.
Would Telstra know if you are using an iPad SIM? I ask because the data is cheaper.
Damn you Telstra for stupid tiered pricing.
Jahn
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 10:21 PMI’ve worked with the Laggards that “Develop”/”Manage” these products. You would be amazed at what they think is High-Tech… I mean look at the T-hub/Box. *face palm*
Alex A
Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 12:09 PMCouple of things: Yes, Telstra knows when you are using an iPad SIM – it’s traceable by various things, particularly IMEIs that don’t match the format that an iPad will be in.
As far as their business model, I assume that this device is designed for pure convenience – yes, many people have phones that have this capability; but think of the grey brigade: often they don’t have (or want) a smartphone and would like something like this.
You could change the prepaid SIM for a postpaid SIM and get away with it (there’s nothing stopping you as far as I can see, and Telstra has had no problem with that in other devices); and far from being ostensibly a benefit, this enables Telstra’s prepaid to work on Linux whereas their previous USB models would not work.
luke
Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 9:54 PMcan you use this telstra 3g wifi, for going and playing online games for ps3 ?
pls get back and answer a.s.a.p
thankyoouu