While Optus slowly continues to roll out its 4G network, and Vodafone continues to promise its 4G network will launch soon, Telstra has zoomed ahead of rivals in getting customers onto its next-generation network.

In a presentation today at the Macquarie Australia Equities Conference, Telstra’s Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Mark Hall, confirmed that the company now has more than 2.1 million customers on its 4G network, up from 1.5 million devices in February this year.

Telstra’s 4G network is expected to cover nearly 66% of Australia’s population by the end of the financial year, with the company investing more than $1.2 billion to continue expanding the network.

“We are broadening the scope of our 4G network by adding a second wireless frequency, 900MHz spectrum, to better cater for increasing mobile use in regional areas,” Hall said in his speech today (view in full on the ASX), before mentioning that the carrier is trialling LTE-advanced technology that uses two spectrum bands to deliver data faster.

In a post on the company’s corporate blog, iiNet revealed it will soon join the rush of Australian carriers moving towards next generation, high speed 4G networks by offering its own 4G-capable plans.

“We will soon offer applicable 4G plans – so stay tuned for more details,” iiNet Communications Officer, Natalie Marinho, said.

iiNet doesn’t own a mobile network of its own, rather it resells services on Optus’ 3G and 4G network across the country. To date, the company has offered 3G mobile services, and a range of 4G mobile broadband-only plans.

Today’s comments come as the company announced its first Windows Phone device for sale, the Samsung ATIV S. First revealed by Samsung last year, it features a 1.5GHz Dual Core processor, a Super AMOLED display, 1GB of RAM and coming in 16 or 32GB storage variations, the device is the first to be sold by iiNet that doesn’t run Google’s Android platform.

Instead, the ATIV S runs Microsoft’s burgeoning Windows Phone platform – a rival to both Android and iOS that features a radically different user experience and design. iiNet are offering the device for $25 per month with a voice plan or $600 when purchased outright.

And iiNet has also added a new Samsung Android device to its range, offering customers the Samsung Galaxy Note II that was released late last year. Boasting a 5.5″ HD display, 1.6GHz Quad Core CPU, 533MHz GPU, 2GB of RAM and an 8MP camera, the device runs the latest version of Android – Jellybean 4.1.

It is available for $33 per month over a 24 month contract, or $792 outright.

Image Credit: Samsung

In a post on the Telstra Exchange blog on Saturday, Director of Mobile Broadband, Anthea Roberts, confirmed that Telstra will indeed be launching new mobile data plans within months that will allow users to share data allowances amongst multiple devices.

“New plans we will be launching in the coming months, which will let you share your data across a number of mobile devices (such as your smartphone, tablet or Mobile WiFi),” Roberts said.

“We believe these plans will be perfect for people who want to streamline and make the most of the data they pay for, without complication.”

No further information was provided within the post on what Telstra’s offering will entail, nor was pricing information revealed.

However, the data plans will likely mirror those already available overseas in places such as America, where the likes of AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile both presently offer plans that allow users to share data allowances across multiple devices.

Presently in Australia, Vodafone offers business customers the ability to share a data allowance while Optus also offers a similar data sharing-style plan for businesses.

Telstra also launched a new range of mobile plans on Saturday – dubbed “Telstra No Lock-In Plans” – that allow users to commit to a month-by-month contract when they bring their own devices. Available from next Tuesday, 23rd April, the prices and value for money are comparative to Telstra’s long-term contract plans and will be available for both business and consumer customers.

Image credit: Telstra

In a release earlier this morning, HTC revealed it would make the device – which is highly regarded within the tech industry as being amongst the best Android phones at the moment – available through all major carriers from the middle of the month.

Features of the phone include an UltraPixel camera that offers 360’ panorama capabilities, improved audio through BoomSound technology, 4.7”, Full HD (1080p) screen and LTE support.

As a bonus, Telstra will also throw in a $199 pair of Beats headphones for those who pre-order the One before April 23, or while stocks last.

4G or long-term evolution (LTE) networks are designed to better cope with the high demands for data usage by the rise in smartphone devices that has left 3G networks across the country struggling to keep up.

Over on Australian broadband forum Whirlpool, smartphone user have been posting their 4G speed results during New Years Eve from major capital cities across Australia where 4G is now available, including Melbourne and Sydney. According to most, as expected the 4G networks well outperformed the older 3G networks despite the huge crowds drawn to watch New Years Eve fireworks.

One user, Barrey, says during the NYE celebrations at Sydney’s Circular Quay, Telstra’s 3G network had speeds of 0mbit/s, but the 4G LTE network remained steady at around 15mbit/s.

In Melbourne, Optus’ 3G network struggled to cope according to user Bradlynx, who says “..throughout the night my Optus connection varied from a single bar, dropping down to Edge, then SOS only, coming back up strong. But the one constant was there was virtually no data connection (so 3G was cactus) and sending out messages did take ages.”

Telstra launched its 4G network in 2011, before Optus joined the party late 2012. Vodafone has yet to launch its 4G network (it says 2013 will be the year for its 4G network), but has been rapidly rolling out 4G-capable equipment as part of its network investment program.

As more and more 4G-capable devices are beginning to appear on the market – such as Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy SIII – users and telcos alike are closely monitoring the impact.

Optus is selling 2 modems, a USB and a Wifi varient. This is a look at the Wifi modem.

Hardware

I have been a fan of Huawei for years and this new model does not disappoint  The E589 is larger than the 3g modems that Huawei sells via Optus and Vodafone. It still uses the small LCD screen of previous models, but you do get the important data on it of users attached  signal strength, network (4g/HSPDA+/HSPDA or 3g). WPA2 is supported, and Optus says there is 10 hours of battery life. Using the modem I doubt the battery figure, however i can get 4 to 5 good hours out of the device.

The usual additions are also available, including a slot for Micro SD card and Micro USB for charging or attaching. When powered, the modem has a better wifi range, so generally i always do so. Saying that, using internal battery, I am still getting good connection to the modem.

The build is solid, but slightly heavier than the 3g version. I generally treat modems hard, throwing them into my pocket with keys and loose change, and the modem holds up well.

Network.

Despite claims from the Optus rep, there is no 4g coverage around my workplace of Parramatta. However the HSPDA reception is great and leave my previous Optus and Vodafone 3g modem for dead (both devices where almost unusable except when pointed in an always changing direction).

The 4G was tested when I attended Eve Down Under and is being used i a hotel in the Sydney CBD as I type this article.

Using the Speedtest website, the 4G reports good bandwidth and great ping speeds.

Speedtest as of 25 Nov 2012 Sydney CBD

Not the best speed, but far better than my ADSL2 on my main computer.

Costs

You can find the details of the plans here.  Compared to the Telstra plans the Optus prices are very competitive.

Conclusion

If you are in an Optus 4g coverage area, the 4G Wifi Modem is well worth the effort. Even in 3G coverage, the modem has a better radio so it is also a good option.

Australian customers who pre-ordered the iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular from Apple’s online store, on Saturday received a welcome update on the estimated shipping time, with the earliest date of arrival appearing to be November 26.

This would place the Australian launch just over a week behind that of the United States, where sales began of the 4G model on Friday at numerous stores across the country.

The iPad mini is Apple’s long-awaited 7.9″ tablet that fits between the iPhone and iPad. Capable of running full-sized iPad apps, the device supports Australian $G networks (Telstra and Optus) and has similar technology to that of the iPad 2.

However according to a number of posts on popular Australian forum Whirlpool, orders being placed for the device now are seeing delivery dates of early December.

The Wi-Fi only model of Apple’s iPad mini went on sale in Australia both online and in-store just over two weeks ago on November 2, with current shipping times via Apple’s online store of two weeks.

Apple has yet to publicly confirm the 4G variant of the iPad mini’s launch date.

Image Credit: Apple

Following in rival Optus’ footsteps, Telstra says its stores will begin selling the highly vaunted device from the 9th October, with the device already on sale through its online store (although the listing suggests it will take between 5-9 business days before delivery).

The device is nearly identical to the original SIII that launched earlier this year, aside from the major difference in that it now supports Telstra’s 4G network – a key criticism of the original device. It runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and boasts a 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display.

“With Telstra’s 4G coverage now available in more than 100 metropolitan and regional areas across the nation, customers will be able to enjoy a full speed experience in more than twice as many places as other 4G networks,” Andrew Volard, Director at Telstra Mobile said in a statement.

“The combination of a quad-core processor, the fastest Android operating platform yet and 4G internet speeds will make it incredibly easy for our customers to stream music and video, surf the web and use video chat to connect with their friends.”

Telstra has embarked upon a major advertising campaign recently, spruiking its 4G network in Australia as the network without equal as rival Optus ramps up its own 4G network.

Firstly, it seems to be a catchup move by Apple. Many of the Android phones have been larger and with a better aspect ratio than the iPhone, with Samsung leading the way with the screens for the Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy Nexus S and the Note range. Moving from the 4:3 aspect ratio found with the iPhone 4 to 16:9 on the iPhone 5 is great, but this has been the default ratio for high end Android phones for a while now.

Secondly, that saved space. Given that the iPhone 5 is thinner, personally I think increasing the battery in the phone would have been a better option. Given the iPhone battery is non removable, they do not have to conform with any battery standard. And while battery use has been touted as a huge improvement compared to previous models, with the iPhone (especially with LTE radio), you can never have enough battery.

The third issue for me is the lack of Micro USB. While Apple loves its propriety standards in such a way only a Sony executive would understand, Europe and other nations are moving towards universal charger standards. So aparently Apple will give a free Micro USB adaptor to Europe, this was a missed opportunity to embrace a standard. After all, since they are breaking the previous Apple interface, it should have been a no brainer to move to a universal standard.

And lastly, the big surprise for many users: Mapping. The Google Maps app has been on the phone from day 1, but never improved. Now Apple has licensed the TomTom maps and created a new app. However TomTom is a new entrant into this area (map data API) and lack of experience has been noticable. While many see this as part of the Apple v Google war, Jeff Jarvis on This Week in Google. The issue here is that there is value in collecting location data, and many companies are trying to exploit it (Like Foursquare, Google and even Amazon is looking to start its own location data service). As a result, we have to ask how much is this part of the Google feud and how much is it Apple jealous of the different ways Google can collect this data (via Google Now, Maps, Latatude and Google Plus). Here is a good comparison between the two services in Brisbane, one city that seems to be hard hit by the mapping wars.

This is not to say it is all bad, the LTE upgrade alone is a good argument for people to upgrade, especially those who have access to Optus of Telstra 4G services. However, for someone who is always thinking “wait for the next version”, I am already planning to see if the iPhone 5S will be worthy for me to re-enter the iPhone ecosystem.

In a move that many will see as positive, the company confirmed on Friday that an agreement has been reached with Federal Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management, Nicola Roxon, and Victorian Deputy Premier, Peter Ryan, over the notifications.

From November 2013, Vodafone will activate a location-based SMS notification system that will allow its customers that are within potential disaster areas to receive text messages warning of an impending danger.

Similar to Telstra’s system, Vodafone will send out the messages based on the phone’s location instead of the registered address of the device’s owner.

“Getting emergency warnings out effectively during a natural disaster is absolutely critical, I’m pleased Vodafone has come on board to do this,” Roxon said in a statement on Friday.

“These changes are going to be a huge help for our emergency service agencies and will help to prepare local communities in times of disaster.”

More than 7.5 million warning messages about more than 500 emergencies have been sent using the existing Emergency Alerts system that sends out messages based on the registered address of a device’s owner, rather than the real-time location of the device.

Ryan welcomed the implementation, saying in a statement “this is a world-first technology that is being rolled out across Australia and will offer a highly targeted location-based alert system for use during emergencies.”

Telstra was the first telecommunications provider to sign up to the Emergency Alerts service, with the company planning to switch it’s implementation on by November this year in time for the bushfire season across Eastern Australia.

Optus is the last of the big three providers to still not have signed up to provide the service, although it is said to be close to agreement with a deal to be “finalised shortly.”