X
Tech

Telstra slates its own Android tablet

Australia's biggest telco Telstra has flagged plans to launch its own Android-based handheld tablet device.
Written by Renai LeMay, Contributor

Australia's biggest telco Telstra has flagged plans to launch its own Android-based handheld tablet device.

T-Touch Tab banner

Telstra's T-Touch Tab banner (Credit: Renai LeMay/Delimiter.com.au)

The company has posted a page on its website where customers can register to receive information on what it's calling the "T-Touch Tab", with a photo of the device appearing to show a tablet of a similar size to Dell's Streak, already launched with Optus. The Telstra device is due in "November".

In addition, a Telstra executive at a devices briefing this morning told journalists further information on the tablet would be available over the next few weeks.

According to Telstra's site, the T-Touch Tab will only be available on the telco's Next G network, similar to its existing range of "T" self-branded devices such as the T-Box internet video platform and the T-Hub telephony system. Telstra's site also includes a prominent "powered by Android technology" badge.

Telstra's launch will rocket the company squarely into a tablet marketplace in Australia, which is set to become white hot. Dell launched its Streak tablet just days ago with Optus, while Samsung's Galaxy Tab is slated to launch in November on all major local carriers, including Telstra.

In addition, Apple's iPad is being taken on by early adopter technology consumers and some industry verticals such as the education market, which is broadly trialling the tablet. Some education departments have also flagged plans to trial rival Android-based devices.

Some companies, such as business intelligence firm MicroStrategy, are rolling out the iPad internally, as they see the tablet as a replacement for many of the functions of the traditional laptop or desktop PC.

Jenna Pitcher also contributed to this article

Carousel image credit: giant Google Android statue with puppy and cupcake image by Kenneth Lu, CC2.0

Editorial standards