Internode offers Huawei E5832 3G/Wi-Fi router (Australia)
Internode, an Australian ISP, has launched th e Huawei E5832, a personal wireless hotspot router that can share 3G internet connections with up to three Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
the company will be selling the product for $149, on its own or with a NodeMobile Data SIM card on a monthly contract. Bundled with a 24-month NodeMobile Data contract, th e Huawei E5832 is priced at $49.
The device is not network locked, and supports 3G HSDPA/HSUPA at both 900 and 2100 MHz. 802.11b and g Wi-Fi protocols are supported, and th e package includes a rechargeable Lithium battery, USB cable and AC charger.
Optus introduces Samsung Omnia 7 promotion (Australia)
Optus, which operates in Australia, has launched a Samsung Omnia 7 promotion. The handset runs on Windows Phone 7 and comes packed with a 4-inch touch screen, Wi-Fi, GPS, and FM radio.
As per the promotion, the company will offer the handset for $5 per month on the 59 per month cap plan. The package also includes a Sony PS3 Slim 120 GB.
The plan includes unlimited standard SMS and MMS to Australian mobiles as well as unlimited access within Australia to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, eBay, and Foursquare. Included cap value is $700 for calls and texts within Australia and the plan also comes with 2 GB of data. The offer is valid for a limited time.
Virgin to sponsor ‘Splendour in the Grass 2011′ (Australia)
Virgin Mobile, an Australia mobile services provider, will be again sponsoring the ‘Splendour in the Grass 2011′ festival. Virgin Mobile has partnered with YouTube to ensure a wider reach. It will stream several hours of festival content from Splendour in the Grass 2011.
The company will also provide a host of benefits to customers attending the festival including bathrooms that are cleaned more often, an express bar queue and a meal per day (in the form of a $10 voucher).
Virgin Mobile subscriber will get a free recyclable mobile phone battery charger. The company will also host The Power Point, a branded destination selling recyclable mobile phone battery chargers and prepaid credit for Virgin Mobile customers.
Telecom credit rating outlook kept negative by S&P
Telecom Corp.’s credit rating was kept on CreditWatch with negative implications by Standard & Poor’s, which said the demerger of its network business would “weaken” the company’s risk profile.
S&P first put Telecom’s A long-term and A-1 short-term ratings on CreditWatch last August and affirmed its assessment this week after the government announced Telecom’s Chorus network business had won the lion’s share of its ultrafast broadband rollout
“In our view, this demerger, which is considered increasingly likely but remains subject to shareholder and legislative approval, will weaken TCNZ’s strong business risk profile,” said S&P credit analyst Paul Draffin.
“If shareholders approve the demerger of Chorus into a new standalone company, it will likely result, all things being equal, in a lowering of long-term rating on TCNZ by one or two notches,” he said.
The final rating will be determined by Telecom’s initial capital structure and financial policy framework, arrangements and debt obligations with Chorus, revenue and margin expectations for its mobile business and revenue and margin expectations for fixed-line retailing, S&P said.
S&P will also weigh up Telecom’s ancillary businesses, such as ICT services and its decisions over its remaining Australian operations, it said.
S&P’s rating report follows a move by rival Moody’s Investors Service, which changed the outlook on Telecom’s A3 rating to negative and said the change “reflects the earnings dilution and narrowing of business mix that will arise from the proposed separation of Chorus and therefore the loss TCNZ’s legacy copper network.”
Telecom’s shares fell 2.3% to $2.375.
Telstra to introduce Samsung Galaxy S II (Australia)
Telstra, which operates in Australia, has announced that it will introduce the Samsung Galaxy S II in July. Pricing and in-store availability will be announced closer to launch.
The Galaxy S II features a 1.2 GHz dual-core SoC processor, in either Samsung’s own Exynos SoC (GT-i9100 model) or Nvidia’s Tegra 2 SoC (GT-i9103 model). It has 1 GB of RAM, a 10.8 cm (4.3 in) WVGA Super AMOLED plus display and an 8 megapixel camera with flash that can record videos in full high definition 1080p.
It is one of the first devices to support Mobile High-definition Link (MHL), which allows up to 1080p uncompressed video output with HDMI while charging the device at the same time. Support for the USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) function was also specified and confirmed on this device.
ACMA wants single 2012 spectrum auction (Australia)
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has put under the hammer, a joint auction of new spectrum licences in the 700 MHz (digital dividend) and 2.5 GHz bands.
According to the regulator, the re-allocation of this spectrum, which comprises of the “digital dividend” freed up by switching off analog television, will mitigate the ever increasing demand for mobile broadband data.
ACMA also released the terms of two draft recommendations it proposes to make to the ICT minister about the reallocations, including details of the spectrum and key dates in the process.
Vodafone introduces prepaid offer with unlimited calls (Australia)
Vodafone Australia has launched new prepaid offers dubbed ‘All-time Prepaid’. the offer will be available at two price-points of $35 and $55 and all credit and inclusions will be valid for 30 days or upon next recharge.
The $35 recharge holds unlimited standard national voice calls on nights (7pm-7am) and weekends, unlimited calls 24/7 to Vodafone and 3 mobiles, unlimited SMS to any personal number in Australia, unlimited access to social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare and LinkedIN, $35 flexible credit for services like international calls, picture messages and more, plus 250 MB data.
The $55 recharge adds unlimited standard national voice calls anytime, $55 flexible credit and 1 GB of data. To promote the new recharge options, Vodafone is offering a bonus 10 percent off any Vodafone All-time recharge until 31 July.
Telstra to introduce HTC Desire S, Wildfire S exclusively (Australia)
Telstra, which operates in Australia, has revealed the HTC Desire S and HTC Wildfire S smartphones. the company will be selling the handset exclusively on the Telstra Next G network.
The HTC Desire S is powered by Qualcomm’s 1 GHz 8255 Snapdragon processor. The device features a 3.7-inch WVGA display, front and back cameras, and virtual surround sound.
The HTC Wildfire S, features a 3.2-inch touchscreen and a 5- megapixel camera with auto focus and flash.
The HTC Wildfire S provides easy Facebook access, Friend Stream (which groups friends’ social network updates together), G-sensor and digital compass.
The HTC Desire S will be available from 31 May on Telstra’s new Freedom Connect Plans and business customers will be able to team the Desire S with a range of Business Mobile Plus and Business Mobile Maximiser plans.
The HTC Desire S will also be available to purchase outright for $648. The HTC Wildfire S will be available from 19 July, also on the Freedom Connect Plans, or, outright for $360.
Telstra to slash excess data charges (Australia)
Telstra, an operator in Australia is planning to “shape” mobile data speeds rather than charging for excess data to prevent “bill shock”.
The changes are in process and will be introduced by year-end. Once a customer has surpassed their data allowance, the company will slow the data speed. Customers can then top-up directly from their handsets to resume full-speed data services.
Furthermore, Telstra will also improve its data usage SMS alerts to near real-time and information for overseas customers will also be improved.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority as well as the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (Accan) welcomed Telstra’s announcement.
Telstra introduces campaign against texting while driving (Australia)
Telstra, which operators in Australia has introduced a campaign through which it has urged Australians not to text and drive.
Three Australian athletes have supported Telstra’s M8 IT CAN W8 campaign by calling on motorists not to text while driving in the lead up to Fatality Free Friday on 27 May.
The three Australian athletes who are supporting the campaign are Olympic gold medalist Duncan Armstrong, netball player Liz Ellis and NRL player Nathan Hindmarsh.
From the time when M8 IT CAN W8 launched, more than 50,000 Australians have donned ‘thumb banneds’ to signal their support for the programme and discourage drivers from the fatal practice of texting when behind the wheel of a car.
Australians are being urged to join Armstrong, Ellis and Hindmarsh and thousands of others to give M8 IT CAN W8 the thumbs up and commit to no texting while driving in the lead-up to Fatality Free Friday, and beyond.
