Telstra launches T-Hub
- — 15 April, 2010 13:44
Telstra has launched the T-Hub, which it describes is a "new generation of home phone" that the telco hopes will boost declining fixed-line rentals in Australia homes. The T-Hub will be available to purchase next Tuesday and its touch screen lets the user access popular Internet services like Facebook and YouTube.
Telstra Chief Marketing Officer Kate McKenzie said that the T-Hub is not just a device but also includes a range of services. "T-Hub will suit Australians' appetite for quick access to information, while enabling customers to perform many mobile phone–type applications on their home phone," she said.
The T-Hub features an 18cm tablet-style that rests on a cradle and features one cordless handset. Telstra says that up to five handsets can be added to a single T-Hub; the extra handsets are sold for $69 each. The phone plugs into a standard telephone socket and can access BigPond services via a Wi-Fi connection to a user's home broadband connection. Users can access the Internet with the built-in Web browser and can also send text messages to Telstra mobiles.
Telstra is offering a series of bundled plans with the T-Hub, including the Home Bundle 12GB plan that features unlimited calls, 12GB of data and a Home Network Gateway for $109 per month plus a $35 upfront fee over a 24 month contract. Telstra customers can also purchase the Sagem-made device separately for $299. Customers who are already subscribers to Telstra's voice and broadband services can sign up for the T-Hub and wireless gateway for an upfront fee of $35 and $11 per month over 24 months.
"We've trialled the T-Hub and some of the most popular features were hands-free phone calls from the touch panel plus local weather, sports, news and finance information. Customers also found Internet radio a great feature for the kitchen or living area, along with a digital photo frame," said McKenzie.
Calls through the T-Hub will be made over Telstra's fixed-line network. There are no immediate plans from the telco for an integrated app store.
Frederick
Fri 23/04/2010 - 20:53
just bought this out of curiosity ....
it could have been a very good device but processor is too slow and should have skype or similar but this is just a lure to get people back to land lines...
A bit of a disappointment ....
one touch access to social networking sites may be popular but it is an overpriced electronic photo frame and speaker phone.....instead of photo's it can be used as a large digit digital clock but some may not like 24 hour display--unable to change to 12 hour AM PM fubction.....
lots of icons to direct you to bigpond crap that you may have no interest in....
the really big downer is very limited internet functionality ...
if you insist on having a land line phone that gives you little value for money compared to mobile it does provide some of the functionality of a mobile
in my mind this device is a big disappointment when you consider what British Telecom offers its customers in U K ........