Hi OzBargain, we're back with a very limited time offer. From tonight at 6pm (AEST) we'll be running an online exclusive EOFY offer on Telstra.com. The HTC Windows Phone 8S will be dropping in price from $279 to $129 - that's less than half price! The offer will end at 8am (AEST) unless withdrawn earlier.
We cannot price match this .. i.e. after-hours deal :p
Nice price !!
Unlocked?
most likely locked to telstra
Hi escimojoe - it's locked to the Telstra network, standard unlocking fees apply.
How much would it cost to unlock it?
"A Network Unlocking fee is applicable within the first six months after a customer activates their Pre-Paid mobile service, or when the Pre-Paid mobile has not been activated. This fee will be $50, $100, or $150 depending on the manufacturer and model of the Pre-Paid mobile phone
6 months after activating the Pre-Paid mobile service, the Unlocking fee for all prepaid mobiles is $27.50."
Source: http://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/General-Mobiles-KB/Unl…
You do not need to unlock a " Telstra locked prepaid phone " in order for it to work with Telstra wholesalers/resellers such as Kogan Mobile/Aldi Mobile and the only reseller offering the whole of the Telstra 3G network ( full speed 3G data & same maximum coverage/distance/range ) called Boost Mobile, 4G excluded for now. Great entry into W8, with an innovative mobile manufacturer making quality mobiles, HTC.
My Aldi card does not work with my Telstra locked iPhone. This was a post paid, not prepaid.
Don't pay Telstra to unlock the phone.
Try this eBay seller for $4.68 as opposed to Telstra's $50, $100 or $150. rolls eyes
LOL absolutely - sometimes Telstra will unlock for free if you are a long term client, but otherwise just go the EBAY route…
Sweet as, just brought one for mum to use with Vaya :D
Because they're pretty damn good? Just sayin.
150mb download for "ultra boatware" Zune for WP to interface with your comp… Ya gotta love that.
You dont: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/how-to/wp8/windows-phone-a…
3MB sync app which installs drivers.
I would rather exactly the opposite: Android over WP over iPhone!
Why does WP need 150mb of bloatware to interface with comp?
Android has native interface…
If i unlock this can i use this on the optus network? Already with them on a plan…
EDIT: Referring to the frequencies and stuff, as i know telstra runs on a different frequency to everyone else.
Yes, but slower 3G in rural and some regional areas, also less range/coverage in rural areas. If you really want a W8 phone that works on the Optus 900 mhz band, get an unlocked version with that 900 mhz band radio, or wait as Optus should add a W8 prepaid phone soon to their range.
Will this work with Boost Mobile?
Wow you guys don't the comments do you?
I never the comments
I'd prefer to the manual
Your picture made it even funnier
I suddenly the whole comments.
Where was Boost mentioned in these comments?
Boost uses the Telstra network so I would imagine so.
I did check the Boost mobile site and found this on the FAQ page
Q: How do I unlock my phone so I can use it on the Boost Pre-paid Mobile service on the Telstra 3G Mobile Network?
A: If your handset is locked to a particular carrier (other than Telstra) you will need to contact that carrier directly. Depending on how long you have had the handset you may need to pay a fee to have the phone unlocked.
Hope this helps :)
Yes, Boost uses the Telstra Network ( 3G 850 mhz ), and is the only Telstra reseller that uses the full Telstra 3 G infrastructure ( including all of the newer rural 850 mhz towers ). Hence you will get maximum Telstra coverage and maximum 3G speeds, just not currently any 4 G. Enjoy
Yes, full 850 mhz and 2100 mhz 3G
Didn't enjoy the browsing experience on the better HTC 8X. Don't think it would be any better on this lower spec model. Browsing noticably slower than iphone 5 in terms of loading pages, and not being able to access sub menus on a website like ozbargain.
Yeah,the submenus are a sticky point for me. If you ask a developer you get 'that's bad web design'. Apparently the touch support on iOS is not WC3's idea of a standard feature (although really it's a feature of the browser, not the site). Maybe Scotty can fix the menus on the mobile site so they work for non iOS touch users? (doesn't work on android or webOS either)
Good price for the phone, and I have to say if you aren't running linux and don't need access on a computer to the files that you have downloaded using the phone, it's a good phone (albeit with a lack of quality apps in many departments).
I can access the sub menus on the Telstra Uno. The other thing that is very slow on the HTC 8x is when you hit the back button. There is a noticeable lag to reload the previous page. This is instant on the iphone 5. It's virtually instant on the Telstra Uno too.
Not saying it's a bad phone, but these little annoyances were enough for me to get rid of my HTC 8X.
Beats audio is magnificent.
"doesn't work on android"
Works perfectly fine on mine. I have a GNex, using Chrome.
also works on my Xperia Sola
Yep, works fine for me too on Gnex.
Sorry I wasn't specific enough, last time I tested it didn't work with the generic android browser CM7/2.3
I can access submenus on my WP7.8 and Android device by long pressing on the link that I would traditionally "hover" over on my desktop to summon the submenus. When the "long-press" menu comes up on either OS, tap somewhere else and it'll recognise as a hover.
I tried this on WP8 and its very hit and miss, I could try 10 times and it might work once. There is a very short window of opportunity between the time when the submenu appears and the context menu appears, and its quite hard to time it so u let go in that windows and then press the link in the submenu before that is removed
works perfectly on sgs3 and iphone
I've skimmed the reviews. Feels quite a generous offer, but appears like a supercharged 42Mbps modem tacked on the back of a very 2011-esque phone.
Liquid Acer metal, was a far more sensible choice back then by some exec at TLS
noob question - does it come with prepaid credit?
$10 bonus credit
Hi devpress - it comes with $10 credit to get you started.
Hi mr_vino89, I'm based here in downtown Melbourne.
interesting, i thought aussies aren't using downtown to describe CBD often. only people in north america do.
Edit: Already been asked
Fricken incredible price… very tempted for a 2nd phone!
Hi Rep, can we expect more sales on other phones? If so, can you elaborate on which phones?
Hi deywar, can't elaborate on any future offers at this stage. However, where possible we'll do our best to get them up on OzBargain.
C'moooon
Come on Telstra, you've flapped me around enough for many years, taken forever to fix things, made our area the last to get ADSL after enduring ISDN for all those years, screwed my bills up all the time, etc etc. How about for once, just once, make me happy - do an absolutely shit-hot cracking bargain on something like an S4! :)
They're not shopping square.
True, they aren't that bad….
I think the savings of $150 is a bit inflated… especially when you can get it for $198 unlocked (plus shipping, if you require it).
However, $129 is still a damn good price!
Edit: www.mobileciti.com.au/htc-8s-grey-850mhz?gclid=CInwv4y0uLcCF…
Blue looks better than previous grey/green ones.
Spec is as follows
http://www.telstra.com.au/business-enterprise/business-produ…
GSM/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 (MHz)
3G: 850/2100
Dimensions (L/W/D): 120.5 x 63 x 10.28 mm
Screen: 4.” super LCD touch screen
Weight: 113g
SIM Card: Micro SIM
Can anyone confirm if the 3G is 850/2100 which works on Optus network.
Optus is 900/2100.
"The HTC Windows Phone 8S is one of the best looking smartphones on the market. It lacks a front-facing camera and the screen is merely average, but this is a compact, well designed device that offer decent value for money."
I think that sums up $129 pretty nicely to be honest. You would be hard pressed getting another device with the same speeds for that amount.
It is a cheap phone yet still performs at a similar level to the high end WP's. Everyday there are more big apps and games popping up in the store. For $129 it is hardly a bad buy.
can we actually install apps on the sd cards ?
No and that is the downfall of this phone. The Lumia 520 is a much better buy as it has 8GB capacity and an SD slot.
ah well, 4gb cant do much.
Good to see that W8 phones are now well and truly in the budget phone range.
It's where they should've been in the first place. ;)
Brought one. Thanx for this. I thought i could pick this up from the store. From what i could see during the process its delivery only
boughtone
No Nokia Drive etc etc etc = FAIL
Can we install android on this handset? Or is it fixed to W8?
Is Whatsapp available on W8?
Thanks.
whatsapp is on W8
Thanks!
Fixed W8 unfortunately (at least according to xda-developers). If want a cheap Android phone go for the $99 Huawei G300+: http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/104420 . Android 4.0 (ICS), 4" 800x480 IPS LCD, 5MP camera, SD slot, supports 900Mhz Optus band, free unlock.
Thx! But the W8 mobile seems to slightly have better specs (CPU/GPU)?
Also the Beats Audio is a positive buying point :-)
Better hardware sure, but Android >> WP. Plus the G300+ is cheaper too. Now if this phone could run Android …
Depends on what you want it for. WP is more polished and easier to use and maintain by the less tech savy.
Ohhh not so.
Can we install android on this handset?
I don't believe so. Can't see anything on XDA. With 512MB of RAM, it's probably for the best.
Is Whatsapp available on W8?
Thx!
Stupid system. You can't put a unit number in the address area.
Hi letmecry, perhaps try and enter it as a different format e.g. "Unit 1 3 Smith St" or "1/3 Smith St". If it's still not working then maybe try a live chat with an agent on the website to see if they can find your address in the system.
I did put my unit in the delivery address (company).
From the entire apartment, your system gave me only 1 choice(unit number 36).
Hi letmecry, I just shot you a message. Let me know if you get it and we'll see if we can help you out.
Is it available in colours other than blue?
Hi iChopstick, only available in blue for this deal.
thought of ordering one… but then… hmm… maybe not.
live a little
Tears just bought one.. But why?!
Thanks telstra rep good deal
Hi rep, can you use this phone with a Telstra mobile member plan or does it have to be pre-paid offer? Thanks.
Hi stanas, you can use this phone with any Telstra service. Please be aware that this handset takes a micro SIM so you may need to change your SIM over. Details on how to do that can be found here: http://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/Pre-Paid-Mobiles/sim-c…
I just received an email today saying order no. PPS7199429
It says Unfortunately, we can't authenticate the information you've provided through our online shop.
I submitted my Australian Passport. I just can not see a reason why that cannot be verified.
Very Very disappointed. Should have come up with a better reason than that.
No Deal…..
nice one!