Comments on: Hero And Tattoo Land Down Under

By: Ox

Ox — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:37:53 +0000

Where can I get an Android phone that works on Telstra? Do these imported phones support NextG?

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:05:39 +0000

Very disappointed that telstra (the main mobile provider with the greatest HSDPA coverage) still hasn’t picked up an android phone.

Telstra uses the 850MHz HSDPA frequency, which barely any android phones are released for :( Currently you can get a G1 or magic for telstra through an australian company which imports them from somewhere else…Very Unhappy!

However, i’m hoping that the Acer A1 liquid will support 850 HSDPA and then i’ll import it :)

By: luke

luke — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:57:05 +0000

When I was in australia, I used Telstra Prepaid. There was a pre-paid data plan of 1 GB for $10 (or was it $20). Not bad, really.

By: Garrows

Garrows — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:38:10 +0000

@Rob
Sorry, that was an error on my article which I have since rectified.
Hero comes with 1.5 with a confirmation from HTC that it is going to be updatable to 2.0 in the future.
Tattoo comes with 1.6. 2.0 details are unknown.

Many thanks for posting the first link :D I wish I could afford to give you a prize or something :P

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:19:02 +0000

Well I bought my G1 when it first came out in Australia and it was unlocked. I assume the same with these phones.

By: MDolley

MDolley — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:21:43 +0000

The AU stock of the Hero will come with 1.5

Also, initial reports are saying that we only get “Mocha Black”

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:24:38 +0000

Here’s a page about the state of Android in Australia:
http://garr.me/?p=86

They seem to say that the Hero/Tattoo will come with 2.0 installed? That would be good news if anyone can confirm.

By: okster

okster — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:02:02 +0000

@Petros
no way admittedly most phones are locked, but its far from impossible, and the carriers do not have the right to refuse to unlock a phone – as long as you are prepared to pay out the phone portion of the plan.

i hate to admit it on this forum but at one point i came close to doing that to get an iphone – buy it from optus and straight away pay it out and transfer to 3. at the time they were offering $300 credit to ppl who did this.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:51:22 +0000

I work for Telstra and have a staff SIM. If it doesn’t work on the 850 3.5G freq I simply have no interest. You could already get the HTC magic here on Voda and I think Optus had the G1.

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:50:02 +0000

totally agree with Petros,
Android adoption by Aussie telcoms has been pathetic to say the least! i bought my HTC Dream (when it was first released) from Optus, and have received zero support when it comes to paid apps, or android updates!

As for the Hero and Tatoo, i’m sticking to a physical keyboard, so i guess i’m waiting for the Droid or buying it from overseas.

By: Zac

Zac — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:42:52 +0000

‘I disagree…. phones are almost always tied to a carrier’

Phones that are sold by a carrier’s store are locked to it, but you can pay to have it unlocked, or hack it. However you can always buy the phone yourself unlocked and connect to the network. We don’t have things like AT&T’s iphone exclusivity.

The catch is large data plans are only available through contract plans, pre-paid data plans are insanely expensive/non-existent.

“Secondly the plans are a complete rippoff”
Seriously? I pay $30 a month for $400 credit…… Not so many years ago it was $30 for $30 credit. Where is the rip-off?

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:53:15 +0000

Phones are rarely _tied_ to a carrier here – you can get a phone under contract which is locked to a carrier for then duration of the contract, but mostly unlocked phones _are_ available for purchase “outright” – they’re just really expensive.

For instance you can buy a 32GB iPhone 3GS from the Australian Apple store unlocked for AUD1040 (roughly USD970). But on a 24 month contract (offered by most carriers here) the phone ends up costing you less than half of that.

The Hero & Tattoo will likely end up being offered by various Australia Telcos on 2 year contracts for less than $25/month.

By: Ricky

Ricky — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:14:48 +0000

Iv been keeping my eyes on these puppies for a while, It’s taken long enough to get here (better late then never tho right).. Hoping to get the Hero (especially now that its getting android 2.0).

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:03:05 +0000

I for one am so disappointed about the announcement!

I’m about to renew my contract, and it looks like the only option is to get another phone, sell it on ebay, then use the cash to buy the hero unsubsidised. But then why on earth would you buy it for $800 from Harvey Norman when you can import it for $600?

I can’t believe the only subsidised android phones we have are the G1, Magic and Galaxy. Come one carriers wake up!!

By: Petros

Petros — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:32:14 +0000

I disagree…. phones are almost always tied to a carrier. Its almost impossible to get an unlocked phone in AUZ. Secondly the plans are a complete rippoff just like everything else over here.

You would be better off buying this phone from handtec.co.uk its cheaper even with fedex shipping.