news The nation’s largest telco Telstra will next Tuesday start selling the first smartphone to be able to fully take advantage of its growing 4G/LTE network: A HTC model running Google’s Android operating system and dubbed the ‘HTC Velocity 4G’.

On 27 September, 2011, Telstra had revealed the official switching on of its fourth generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile network across the nation, providing 4G coverage across the capital city central business districts (CBD) of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin and Canberra, and over 30 other centres in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. The telco had also planned to launch the 4G network in more than 50 additional locations by the end of 2011. Capital CBD implies 5km from the GPO in the capital cities and 3km from the town centre in regional locations.

The changeover to 4G will double the speeds available to Telstra customers. The current 3G network that is based on the HSPA+ standard has download speeds varying between 1.1Mbps and 20Mbps, whereas the 4G band will enable speeds between 2Mbps and 40 Mbps. Upload speeds that are currently between 500kbps to 3Mbps will expand to between 1Mbps and 10Mbps. However, until now, while mobile broadband hardware has been available to allow customers to use the higher speeds, there haven’t been any smartphone handsets capable to fully using the 4G infrastructure.

In a statement today, Telstra confirmed details of its first 4G handset. As reported over the past few weeks by everal other media outlets, the device will be a powerful Android phone from HTC, similar to the company’s existing Sensation or Incredible lines.

The Velocity 4G will come with a 4.5″ touchscreen running at a resolution of 540×960, a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and an eight megapixel camera. It will also switch “seamlessly” between the 4G and 3G areas of Telstra’s network — roaming onto 3G where 4G infrastructure isn’t available. The phone weighs 163.8g, and measures 128.8 by 67 by 11.27mm. The high-definition voice audio feature available on Telstra’s network is supported by the model. Telstra hasn’t specified which version of Android is available on the phone, but it’s believed to be 2.3 (Gingerbread), with HTC’s Sense 3.5 user interface running on top.

Telstra’s statement noted that the phone is available for pre-purchase from the telco’s online store from today, although it will go on sale through retail stores (including partner stores) from next Tuesday 24 January. There is limited stock available of the smartphone.

The phone will be available on four plans — at price points of $59 (plus $10 handset repayment per month), $79, $99 and $129. The plans come with varying amounts of calling value and data included — starting at 1.5GB and $550 worth of calling data per month and topping out at unlimited calls and 3G of data per month.

Image credit: HTC

Related posts:

1. HTC HD7 hits Telstra next Tuesday
2. Telstra to sell Android-based Desire in April
3. Telstra to release HTC 4G handset “soon”
4. Telstra launches LG Android phone
5. Telstra pledges to reduce Android bloatware

1. James P
   Posted 19/01/2012 at 11:59 am | Permalink | Reply

   You missed a pretty important capital city in your list there Renai ;p

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 19/01/2012 at 12:47 pm | Permalink | Reply

     Bah, as if Brisvegas is important ;) Fixed.

2. PeterA
   Posted 20/01/2012 at 7:59 am | Permalink | Reply

   http://www.htc.com/au/smartphones/htc-velocity-4g/

   Photos used on this page are telstra branded phones. I suggest for detailed info about the phone itself this is the authoritative source.

   Fantastic phone, but battery life in the 4g radio is a concern. (Compare talk and idle times to the sensation, this phone has more built in storage, ram and a faster processor, but I believe the battery numbers knock it out of consideration for me.

   • PeterA
     Posted 20/01/2012 at 8:27 am | Permalink | Reply

     Figured since I’ve finished my early morning work tasks I’d help people interested in this phone
     Basically, my verdict is, if you want/need 4g, are in the city when you need it, and battery life isnt a huge concern, this is a good phone.

     Specs:
     http://www.htc.com/au/smartphones/htc-sensation/#specs
     http://www.htc.com/au/smartphones/htc-sensation-xe/#specs
     http://www.htc.com/au/smartphones/htc-velocity-4g/#specs

     Quick Table: (lets see if delimiter will let me table it up! – probably not, hope this doesn’t get ugly – if it does apologies).

     Also note; the Velocity is 2mm wider and taller.

     Phone

     CPU

     RAM

     Storage (built in)

     TalkTime(3g/gsm)

     Standby(3g/gsm)

     Display

     Weight

     Sensation

     1.2ghz

     768mb

     1GB

     420/500 mins

     525/285 hours

     4.3in

     148g

     Sensation XE

     1.5 ghz Dual Core

     768mb

     4GB

     445/550 mins

     540/310 hours

     4.3in

     151g

     Velocity 4G

     1.5 ghz

     1024mb

     16GB

     310/460 mins

     248/293 hours

     4.5in

     163.8g

     Notes: all CPU’s dual core. and as an aside; I have heard (no promises!) that the sensation XE’s battery is a high-capacity version of the normal Sensation battery. therefore, you can buy a replacement XE battery, put it in your normal sensation, and get better battery life. (XE = ~1700mah, sensation = ~1500mah batteries)
     The different battery between the XE and normal sensation is probably accounts for the 3 grams weight difference.

     • PeterA
       Posted 20/01/2012 at 8:28 am | Permalink | Reply

       oh god the horror.
       No tables for delimiter then! (renaaiiii, delete the above!)

       • PeterA
         Posted 20/01/2012 at 8:35 am | Permalink | Reply

         https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=19a60597b686d910&resid=19A60597B686D910!142&parid=19A60597B686D910!130&authkey=!APCOi1ZvrnEFDnY
         for a version that mildy resembles what I intended

       • Renai LeMay
         Posted 20/01/2012 at 11:10 am | Permalink | Reply

         WordPress is not always as clever as it needs to be ;)

3. digital_voodoo
   Posted 23/01/2012 at 3:06 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Have had a TLS Demo unit for entire weekend i have to say its an impressive phone, and i believe it will be a good seller. Few hidden upgrades to android in there to fix some previous annoyances. Overall enjoyed using it. :)