Back in September, Telstra told us that its first 4G handset would arrive early in 2012. Well, it’s early 2012, so where’s our 4G phone? According to Telstra’s Gerd Schenkel, it’s coming ‘soon’.
Delimiter spotted the update on Telstra’s crowd support website, where Schenkel confirms that the first handset will be an HTC device. He doesn’t specify which one, but we pretty much already knew it was going to be a modified version of the HTC Raider 4G anyway.
We’ll release the first 4G handset soon. It’ll be a HTC product. You can register your interest here https://www.telstra.com.au/eoi/keep-informed/ and we’ll let you know when a date is set. Here’s some info on our 4G network as well http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/networks/network_info/4g.html
Gerd Schenkel
Executive Director, Telstra Digital
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Given Telstra’s headstart with its LTE network, expect this to be the first of many LTE handsets released this year.
Andrew
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 10:12 AMMan.. i really want an LTE phone… but I don’t know if I can downgrade spec wise from the S2..
Greg
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 11:37 AMGiven that currently available handsets are higher spec than the Galaxy S II I don’t think this will be a problem.
Geoff Q
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 10:20 AMIt will be interesting to see if the phone in the video is actually the one to be released. I only say this because the phone in the video runs Gingerbread and has hardware ‘soft keys’ which arent required with ICS. If they release that phone with Gingerbread it would be a shame as it is dated. BUT if they release that phone with ICS on top it will be interesting to see how it all works with onscreen menu buttons and the physical ones on the phone. Am I reading too much into this? Yep probably, Looking forward to it!
Dan
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 4:06 PMICS automatically disables the on screen menu keys when physical hard or soft keys are present.
Cameron
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 11:39 AMI’m holding out on getting a new contract (and by extension phone) until we can get stuff for Telstra’s 4G network. Just gotta hope the phone(s) they’ll be releasing will work not only on their current 4G network, but the upcoming network as well, after the Digital TV switch over.
wsDK_II
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 12:03 PMHTC are releasing both an android 4G LTE and an WP7 4G LTE phone on Telstra this quarter.
but ill be hanging out for the new nokia’s :D
Sicarius123
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 12:23 PMAnyone who thinks a genuinely flagship worthy phone will be made specifically for Telstra’s odd bands is dreaming.
It’s a pity they didn’t get LTE going on the 700MHz band like AT&T in the US since they both share the same 3G bands.
Greg
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 12:49 PMConsidering that 1800MHz is used for LTE across Europe and Asia as well as Australia, you might be jumping the gun a little there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3GPP_Long_Term_Evolution
Telstra (or any other carrier in Oz) can’t use 700MHz yet because we still have analog TV transmitting in that frequency range.
Cameron
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 2:25 PM700Mhz isn’t available for use in Australia until late 2013 after the digital TV switch over is complete.
The real question will be if this phone will be both 1800 and 700 Mhz LTE. It has to be 1800 for LTE, it also has to be 850/2100 HSPA for NextG, so straight up it’ll need a new radio. Not a huge issue for the likes of HTC.
Legen Dary
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 12:50 PMRumours are it will be called the HTC Velocity 4G.
Chris
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 2:52 PMSo, rather interestingly this rumor is circulating at the moment
HTC Radiant LTE Windows Phone
http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/htc-radiant-lte-windows-phone-for-att-first-images
James Mac
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 9:16 PMAnd where’s the Nokia Lumia?
Alex
Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 10:02 AMDownload speeds of 100mbps and upload speeds of 50mbps