Although Telstra has taken heed of the Federal Government’s recommendations to delay the shutdown of its CDMA network until April 28, the telco has decided not to extend an incentive program launched to bolster migration to Next G.

Customers hoping to cash in on phone credit bonuses will be out of luck as Telstra ceases its incentive offer on January 28, the original planned date for the CDMA shutdown until Federal Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy intervened with his concerns.

Telstra Country Wide Director, Gary Goldsworthy confirmed the $100 credit for post-paid customers migrating from CDMA to an eligible Next G plan and the $50 cash back for CDMA customers buying a pre-paid Samsung A411, would no longer be available after January 28.

"The majority of the CDMA customer base has now migrated to the Next G network, so we're unlikely to introduce any new customer migration offers prior to the scheduled CDMA network closure on 28 April, 2008,” he said.

"From now until the CDMA network closure we will be firmly focused on resolving any handset and equipment problems experienced by customers who have moved from CDMA to the Next G mobile network."

Aside from pushing back CDMA’s closure, Telstra has implemented another Conroy recommendation and established a telephone hotline to assist CDMA customer migration to Next G.

Telstra Country Wide Group managing director, Geoff Booth, said the hotline, which aims to provide assistance to customers having issues with their handsets and equipment, would be live from January 22.

Booth said the Hotline would give customers with genuine problems a direct line to a specialist call centre where trained consultants would take them through tried-and-tested diagnostic steps to help locate the cause of their issue and where necessary arrange a physical test of coverage at their location. If the diagnostics show there is a genuine handset problem, Telstra will swap out a customer's handset.

Customers experiencing handset issues can call the hotline on 1800 888 888.

Booth also announced that 57 specially trained Coverage Advocates would be hitting Australia's roads to help customers transition from the CDMA network and ensure they have the right handsets and equipment.

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