19 Nov Telstra Announces New 4G Smartphones
Looking for a smartphone without the mind boggling, PC-like complexity? Or maybe you want a 4G smartphone without the 24 month contract and high outright cost.
Good news is, for either requirement, Telstra has a solution for you.
Telstra have unveiled two new self-branded 4G smartphones; the EasyTouch 4G and the Frontier 4G, which Telstra have manufactured with the help of Chinese OTM ZTE, for a very specific market.
A Smartphone Without The Learning Curve
EasyTouch 4G, Credit: CBSi
Whether your looking to purchase your first smartphone or you just want an easy to use smartphone without too many bells and whistles, the Telstra EasyTouch 4G is for you.
The Android based smartphone has been designed by Telstra for people who are “thinking of moving to a smartphone but want the experience to be simple” (Source: Telstra Exchange). The EasyTouch 4G is Telstra’s first smartphone addition to its range of Easy devices, which aim to bridge the gap for those that are moving from older mobile phones to smartphones, which, lets face it, are essentially like miniature PC’s and can be quite complex.
The EasyTouch 4G features Easy Widgets and a new lock screen, which give users quick access to the most important features of a smartphone: calling, messaging, email, browser and handset settings in addition to quick access to notifications for unread or un-actioned email, text and call notifications. The four Easy widgets that come preinstalled on the EasyTouch 4G are:
[list style=”list1″ color=”green”]
- Phone: Quick access to the phone dialler, call log, contacts and messages shows at a glance if you have missed calls or have unread messages.
- Internet: A convenient hub for the browser, favourite bookmarks and emails
- Media: Quick access to our camera and photo gallery in addition to the music player
- Settings: Lets you set your alarm, adjust sounds and manage wi-fi settings.
[/list]
The lock screen has undergone some simplification as well, with the Telstra team adding simplified and colour-coded notification buttons for unlock, missed calls, messages and email so that customers need only to press and hold the appropriate button to jump directly to that area.
PrePaid 4G
Frontier 4G, Credit: CBSi
In addition to the EasyTouch 4G, Telstra have come up with a solution for those that want to experience 4G without a 24 month contract and without parting with a large sum of money for a smartphone. The Frontier 4G is among the first pre-paid phones to have access to the 4G network, which makes it a compelling choice for those wanting a low priced 4G smartphone without a contract.
The Frontier 4G, like the EasyTouch 4G runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream sandwich, which will be upgraded to 4.1 Jelly Bean in the coming months according to Telstra. The Frontier 4G also offers something for those working or living in rural or remote parts of Australia, featuring an external antenna port to boost the users reception if required. When combined with a Blue Tick rating (which identifies handsets recommended for rural handheld coverage), the Frontier 4G will be a great option for those out in the bush.
Features and Specs
EasyTouch 4G
[list style=”list1″ color=”green”]
- 4.3 inch screen
- 8 mega-pixel rear facing camera with LED Flash
- 4GB internal memory
- MicroSD slot, expandable ip to 32GB
- Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS
- 4G enabled
[/list]
Frontier 4G
[list style=”list1″ color=”green”]
- 4inch touchscreen
- 1.5GHz dual-core processor
- 5 mega-pixel rear facing camera
- microSD slot, expandable up to 32GB
- 4GB internal memory
[/list]
Visit Telstra’s website for more details on their new 4G phones.