By The HTC Desire is quite the globe-trotting handset, making its way today to Telstra in Australia. Those on the HTC Desire mailing list received a notification today announcing the release. It had been known it would be coming in April, but no date had been known up until the handset graced the Telstra site, ready for sale.
The Desire will be available to Telstra subscribers free with a 2-year contract at $85 per month and can be ordered on the Telstra website.
[Thanks to Scott for the heads up!]
That is a pretty sweet deal. :) How many of us guys here in the USA is paying $85 a month for two years and get the phone for free?
ummmm thats NOT sweet, i pay 69 a month…
69 x 24 months = 1,656 and that is unlimited everything with sprint… idk what this plan is but it can’t be BETTER than that
85 x 24 months = 2040
2040 – 1656 = 384$
i’d rather pay 199 plus sprints plans and pocket the near 200 extra
Im from Australia and Telstra have probably the best coverage, but are too pricey.
I got the HTC magic on a $29 a month plan which doesnt have data but does include $150 worth of calls etc etc (With 3).
If only a better telco had picked up this phone it would have hit a larger audience as most of the under 30’s don’t like Telstra.
Does Telstra use the same bands for 3G as AT&T? If I end up deciding to spend $520+ on a Nexus One I might as well spend $600-some on this if/when it hits Ebay…
@Frank….my thoughts too. I believe Telstra uses at least 1 of atts 3g bands…here’s hoping
@Frank…and a little google later…
“Telstra uses the 850MHz band for Next G” – pulled from the Telstra site.
At&t uses 850/1900, meaning it has one of at&t’s bands. Good enough for government work, no? haha.
Yes, Telstra uses the UMTS 850Mhz band like AT&T.
It’s available today online or Melbourne, Sydney or Perth outlets and includes only 150MB data per month :(
F_cking telstra.
And if you need more then 150mb?
$5 – 5MB
$10 – 150MB
$30 – 300MB
$60 – 1GB
Check those pricing points, 30 for 300mb. Switching to Optus third part….. now
The telstra plans leave a lot to be desired + they load the phones with crappy software that bogs down otherwise very fast phones
And the one place that is dragging their feet – good old At&t
@10
What else is new?
AT&T, Apple Through & Through.
So, I’m assuming this isn’t the Desire that passed the FCC w/AT&T bands earlier (http://is.gd/bC1C8 – BGR)?
@Covert,
you need to convert between US dollars and Australian dollars. It’s currently about 0.92 USD to 1 AUD. So realistically you’re paying A$75 using a quick and dirty 69×1.1 calculation.
$10 diff, not much to write home about. Also Telstra uses a 7.2 Mbit HSPA network which is quite a bit faster then Sprint (uses Verizons CDMA network if I’m not mistaken) in the US. How much data do you get on that plan, the “no data” plan with the desire is A$60 (US$55).
Hellstra is also Australia’s most expensive network. On the plus side, because all Australian carriers use a common 2100 MHz network, the Desire will work on all carriers. But if you’ve signed a service contract with Telstra you’re obliged to pay it under contract law.
I got the phone for free on a $62.46(AUD)/month plan, 150minutes, 75 texts, 150MB of data, with $35 above and beyond those to spend on whatever. (Specifically for those down under, $55 ultimate plan with MRO)
Minimal Telstra software/branding, can create a whole new scene with zero Telstra apps.
Most of the apps supplied from Telstra are just links to websites, so take up no room.
Loving the phone though.