Telstra reveals data sharing plans

In confirming the no lock-in plans revealed by ZDNet last week, Telstra also announced plans to allow customers to share their monthly data allowances across multiple devices.

On Saturday, Telstra confirmed that the company will offer the no lock-in plans to customers from Tuesday, and also revealed that it would also bring in brand new plans that would let customers share data allowances across multiple devices, whether that be a smartphone, tablet, or multiple smartphones for one family.

Telstra hasn't confirmed when these plans will be released, but has said they will be released in the next few months.

AT&T and Verizon in the US already currently offer data-share plans. Verizon's plans were met with criticism last year, with some suggesting that it was Verizon's way of pushing people away from unlimited data plans onto capped data plans.

No Australian mobile telecommunications company has unlimited data plans currently, but with the release of Telstra's no lock-in plans, the telco is shifting against offering customers more data for less money on their mobile plans.

Telstra's chief customer officer Gordon Ballantyne said that the new plans will allow customers to consider their phone plans on a month-by-month basis, rather than being locked in for 12 or 24 months.

"Telstra No Lock-In Plans give customers who are still considering a switch to Telstra the flexibility to test the network for themselves without being tied into a long-term contract," he said.