Telstra adds data to Bundles as T-Box hits the streets

Telstra’s T-BOX hits stores today, and in conjunction with that, a new range of Bigpond Plans has been announced.

The three new bundles now have Unlimted Local Calls and either capped or unlimted STD Calls – The 25 Gig bundle has double the data allowance it had previously..  In another step toward real Telstra bundling, the 100Gig plan has unlimited calls to any Telstra Mobile from the home phone – which is quite compelling for some people I would think.  And finally, the 200Gig bundle has unlimited calls from your home phone to ANY mobile in Australia.  This is good stuff from Telstra!

More details follow:

From the telstra announcement:

Telstra Home 25GB Value Bundle at $109 per month for 24 months plus $35 upfront. This plan includes:

• BigPond Elite™ Liberty – 25GB
• T-Box or T-Hub
• Unlimited local calls and $1 STD calls

Telstra Home 100GB Ultimate Bundle at $139 per month for 24 months plus $35 upfront. This plan includes:

• BigPond Elite™ Liberty – 100GB
• T-Box or T-Hub
• Unlimited local and STD calls
• Unlimited calls to any Telstra mobile from your home phone

Telstra Home 200GB Ultimate Bundle at $159 per month for 24 months plus $35 upfront. This plan includes:

• BigPond Elite™ Liberty – 200GB
• T-Box or T-Hub
• Unlimited local and STD calls
• Unlimited calls to any Australian mobile from your home phone
• $10 monthly credit towards International Direct Dial calls.

Our bundles are all flexible, you can replace the included T-Box by a T-Hub for the same price (your choice), or you can have both the T-Box and T-Hub by paying an additional $35 upfront then $11 per month on a 24 month plan or $299 upfront. You can even take up a Bundle without the T-Box or T-Hub if you prefer.

Of course the new bundles come with some minimum prices over 24 months. They are $2,171 (Home 25GB Value Bundle), $3,371 (Home 100GB Ultimate Bundle) and $3,851 (Home 200GB Ultimate Bundle). These minimum costs exclude usage and a $9.95 delivery fee.

Interesting to note that given the T-Box and T-Hub are both the same price, they are interchangable within the plans.

Let me know what you think – will you be getting one?

I will!

Update: Let me put that all in some perspective from my point of view.  I’m currently on the “BigPond Elite Liberty* (25GB) – ADSL 2+” paying $90 per month.  It’s quite frankly an expensive plan, but the unmetered content combined with the features of the T-Hub and I was happy.

Now, add to it the unlimited local calls, and all the line rental stuff – I’m paying $20 more for unlimited local calls.  And if I were starting with no “T-” device, I’d pick the T-Box ahead of the T-Hub, however, I’m fortunate that I already have a T-Hub, so would take the included T-Box in this bundle, and my wife can happily make unlimited local calls (to her mum!).

The higher plans are tough to justify for me, becuase we don’t have Telstra Mobiles – however, there might be the formation of  a compelling reason to do what everyone should do at contract time – sit down and work out your TOTAL communications costing – see what’s best.