Telstra flags new broadband bundles

Telstra has released a set of three new residential broadband bundles, on sale to coincide with the release of the Telstra T-Box PVR (personal video recorder).

The bundles include a Telstra Home 25GB Value Bundle at $109 per month on a 24-month contract, Telstra Home 100GB Ultimate Bundle at $139 per month on a 24 month contract and Telstra Home 200GB Ultimate Bundle at $159 per month on a 24 month contact.

As mentioned on PC Authority yesterday, each 24-month contract will come pre-bundled with Telstra's T-Box, which marks Telstra's first foray into the developing world of IPTV.  The T-Box is a digital set top box that combines Bigpond TV and movie content with free-to-air channels.

As an added bonus, claims Telstra, each bundle will also come with unlimited local phone calls and in some cases, unlimited STD and mobile calls too.

Telstra are calling the new plans 'flexible', with a choice of T-Hub or T-Box with each plan. While the T-Box has been getting its fair share of coverage lately, the T-Hub has received predominantly less. The latter is a touchscreen phone hybrid that gives you access to a range of pre-configured websites and provides texting capabilities.

While the bundles include phone calls, users who rely on mobile phones in the home might not see the value in a home phone bundle. The $159 deal includes mobile calls and 200GB, which would make it better value for big mobile spenders.

Also worth considering are the large quota deals now advertised by AAPT (unlimited in some cases) and TPG ($59.95 for 140GB).