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BlackBerry Bold on Next G(TM) - the most powerful BlackBerry ever
Australian icon, the Royal Flying Doctors Service, today became the first Telstra regional business customer to experience the latest version of the world's most popular business mobile device (PDA) on Telstra's Next G™ network - Australia's largest and fastest mobile network.
In Dubbo today, Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) CEO, Nigel Milan was presented with a Next G™ BlackBerry Bold by Telstra Country Wide Group® Managing Director, Mr Geoff Booth.
To mark the occasion, Telstra CEO Mr Sol Trujillo, sent a congratulatory message:
"Nigel, Congratulations. You are the first regional business customer to get the long-awaited Blackberry Bold - taking advantage of the world's most popular PDA on Australia's largest and fastest 3G network, Next G™, available to 99 per cent of the Australian population. Trust you enjoy the experience. Sol"
Mr Milan said the RFDS relied on cutting edge technologies to overcome distance and deliver quality healthcare to Australians across the country and in remote regions.
"The new BlackBerry Bold device on Telstra's Next G™ network will enable us to continue to stay informed while on the move, manage complex tasks and deliver state-of-the-art health services. The new BlackBerry will be a valuable addition to our communication assets," Mr Milan said.
Telstra Business Group Managing Director, Ms Deena Shiff said BlackBerry devices were an increasingly popular and important device business customers, and customers could now pre-register the new BlackBerry Bold smartphone.
"It's the ideal business mobile, allowing fast access to email and calendar, fast download of attachments which can be easily read on the high resolution screen and fast access to the internet. It supports a number of useful business applications including work scheduling programs that require built-in GPS," Ms Shiff said.
"This is a boon for productivity and improved response rates, allowing 'always on' wireless access while away from the desk, so time-sensitive information can be dealt between meetings or as required. And for 'down times' the big screen is great for viewing FOXTEL™," Ms Shiff said.
"Telstra will be offering the new BlackBerry Bold smartphone for $0 upfront to business customers from the 25th August 2008 and customers can register their interest from today via our website or by calling 1800BUSINESS."
Telstra Product Management Executive Director, Mr Ross Fielding said: "Bold is everything you love about the BlackBerry email experience super-charged by the speeds, extensive national 3G coverage and unique services available over Telstra's Next G™ network."
"BlackBerry's decisionto launch Bold on the 3G 850MHz spectrum is great news for people who work beyond Australia's capital cities. That'sbecause the Next G™ network (Australia's only 3G 850MHz network) delivers the full 3G coverage experience across more than 2 million square kilometres."
"This means users can make the most of Bold's 3.6 Mbps download capability to browse the net, use 3G applications, like Whereis Navigator, and handle large email attachments faster, in more places. This includes outside Australiawhere users can take advantage of the Bold's 3GSM Tri Band capability that provides seamless 3G coverage in more countries."*
Recent figures released in the USA highlight the attractiveness of the BlackBerry to business and enterprise customers, showing that Blackberry smartphone sales had surged from 35.1% to 44.5% of market share in the first quarter of 2008.
* Typical customer download speed 550 kbps - 1.5 Mbps bursting up to 3 Mbps in CBD, metropolitan and selected regional and other locations.
Reference Number: 193/2008
