Telstra customers set to get that new phone feeling every year

Media Release, 20 February 2014

From 4 March Telstra customers will be able to add the option to trade up to a brand-new smartphone after just 12 months when they sign up to a new 24-month plan.

Telstra’s Group Managing Director for Product, Warwick Bray, said Telstra had listened to millions of its customers, who said they wanted an affordable way to trade up to the latest smartphone more frequently.

“We know lots of Australians really look forward to getting their hands on the latest smartphone technology and we want to give them the chance to experience that ‘new phone feeling’ more frequently. So we're introducing the option for customers to get a new smartphone every 12 months as an add-on with selected handsets across our new 24-month consumer plans,” Mr Bray said.

The feature, dubbed "Telstra New Phone Feeling" allows customers to trade to a new smartphone after 12 months instead of waiting two years. Customers simply pay $10 per month on top of their plan (minimum cost $120 plus plan and handset costs) and return their existing phone undamaged and in good working order to trade up to a new model on a new two year handset plan. Telstra is the first carrier in Australia to make this offer available across a range of plans for consumer customers.

The Telstra New Phone Feeling offer arrives as new research[1] reveals:

  • Around half (46%) of Australians would like their telco to offer them the option to get the latest smartphone part-way through their plan.
  • The top reasons Australians want to update their mobile more frequently includes a desire to have the latest features, a love of having the latest gadgets and boredom with their existing device.
  • Those aged 25-34 are most excited about the prospect of a plan that includes the chance to trade up to a new phone every year with 63% indicating they’d like the option, followed by 18-24 year olds (61%) and those aged 35-44 (55%).

New plans with peace of mind built in

 

‘Telstra New Phone Feeling’ launches alongside Telstra’s new Mobile Accelerate Plans, which bring together generous allowances, greater cost certainty and a connection to Australia’s largest and most reliable national mobile network.

Each plan comes with a safety net for excess MMS and voice charges so customers will pay no more than $130 per month on eligible call types. Excess data rates in Australia have been reduced from 10 cents to 3 cents per megabyte – one of the lowest rates in Australia.

“Our new plans cater for the continued demand for voice calling and the growth in mobile internet use. And because customers tell us cost certainty is really important to them, they offer peace of mind that they won’t face big surprises should they exceed their included allowances,” Mr Bray said.

The new 24 month Mobile Accelerate Plans range from $55 per month with an option for light data users who want a new phone with their plan and tops out at $130 per month with a plan for avid communicators, which comes with unlimited national voice, SMS and MMS to standard Australian numbers, and 3GB of data to use in Australia.

“We think our new $70 Mobile Accelerate Plan will be particularly popular with customers. It includes $700 worth of talk and MMS and unlimited SMS to standard Australian numbers while you’re in Australia and 1.5GB of data to use in Australia. Plus, for $10 more a month customers can trade up to the latest flagship smartphone on a new 24 month handset plan half-way through their plan when they return their existing handset undamaged and in good working condition.

Mr Bray said whichever Mobile Accelerate Plan customers chose, they will enjoy the benefits of being connected in more places on Australia’s largest and most reliable national mobile network.

“We also know that a great-performing network is central to value from a mobile plan. That’s why the Telstra Mobile Network offers four times the 4G coverage area of any other Australian mobile network and we’re investing $1.2bn in our mobile network this financial year to ensure customers continue to enjoy a superior coverage area, more reliable speeds and fewer dropouts."

The new Mobile Accelerate Plans launch 4 March and offer:

  • Casual Plans. Customers can bring their own device and pay month-to-month, giving them the benefits of the Telstra Mobile Network with no long-term contract commitment.
  • Data Share Plans. Customers can share data allowances across multiple devices including a tablet and laptop all on a single bill allowing them to make their data go further.
  • BYO and BYO Data Share plans. Customers simply bring their existing compatible mobile to Telstra, and enjoy better value than the equivalent Mobile Accelerate Plan.
  • Optional data packs and data share packs to flexibly boost monthly data allowances.

 

Handset Plan – service and handset for 24 months

 

Minimum Monthly Plan Charge
24 month minimum term
$55
 
$70
 
$95
 
$130
 
Monthly included allowance for calls, text and MMS to standard Australian numbers
$550
$700
$950
Unlimited
Monthly included data allowance to use in Australia
500MB
1.5GB
2.5GB
3GB
MMS picture messages to standard Australian numbers (per msg)
50c
Unlimited
MMS video messages to standard Australian numbers (per msg)
75c
Unlimited
Text messages to standard Australian numbers
 Unlimited
Unlimited Nights (7pm – 7am every night) and
Unlimited Weekends (all day Saturday and Sunday)
No
No
Yes
N/A
Excess data usage within Australia (charged per KB)
3c per MB
Excess Voice Safety Net
$130 (MMC + eligible excess charges = $130)
Minimum cost
$1,320
$1,680
$2,280
$3,120
2 min standard call
$2.38
All to standard Australian numbers (excludes use overseas)

BYO Plans

 

Minimum Monthly Plan Spend
 
$45
 
$55
 
$70
$95
 
Plan Term
12 or 24 months
Monthly included allowance for calls, text and MMS to standard Australian numbers
$550
$700
$950
Unlimited
Monthly included data allowance to use in Australia
500MB
1.5GB
2.5GB
3GB
MMS picture messages to standard Australian numbers (per msg)
50c
Unlimited
MMS video messages to standard Australian numbers (per msg)
75c
Unlimited
Text messages to standard Australian numbers
Unlimited
Unlimited Nights (7pm – 7am every night) and
Unlimited Weekends (all day Saturday and Sunday)
No
No
Yes
n/a
Excess data usage within Australia (charged per KB)
3c per MB
Excess Voice Safety Net
$130 (MMC + eligible excess charges = $130)
Minimum cost
12 months $540
24 months $1,080
12 months $660
24 months
$1,320
12 months $840
24 months
$1,680
12 months $1,140
24 months $2,280
2 min standard call
$2.38
All to standard Australian numbers (excludes use overseas)


[1] This research conducted online by Pureprofile on behalf of Telstra with a nationally representative sample of 1,004 Australians aged 18 years and older. 

The Telstra Mobile Network offers 4G in all capital CBDs and associated airports, many surrounding suburban areas and in over 300 regional areas. You’ll automatically switch to our fastest available 3G in other coverage areas around Australia. Check coverage at telstra.com/coverage. Typical download speeds of between 2Mbps and 50Mbps are available to 4G devices in 4G areas. Outside 4G areas, you will switch to our fastest available 3G speeds. Speeds vary for reasons like location, distance from base stations, terrain, user numbers, hardware/software configuration, download source and upload destination.