Optus 3G Phone
Optus is one of the leading telecommunications companies in Australia, second only to Telstra Mobile in terms of subscribership. It has over 7 million customers as of February 2008, many of whom are Optus 3G phone subscribers. Its Optus 3G phone program is just one of the many services it offers; it also services major telecom and cable companies such as Virgin Mobile Australia, Boost Mobile, and Telstra Wholesale.
History
The Optus 3G phone service, as well as its other branches, is owned by Singapore Telecommunications or Singtel. Optus was established in 1981 with the formation of AUSSAT, a government-owned satellite corporation. Initially, it obtained its infrastructure from its competitor, Telstra, until it laid out its own system in 1996. The hybrid fiber-coaxial system paved the way for a slew of innovations, which would lead up to the popular Optus 3G phone service. Today, besides the partly owned Optus 3G phone network, the company operates a national fiber-optic cable network, a fleet of geostationary satellites, and a GSM network active in all six states.
The Optus 3G phone program
The Optus 3G phone network was established in November 2004 in a joint program with Vodafone, another leading telecom company. Offering high-quality video call and other key features, the Optus 3G phone service is currently available in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Geelong, and the Gold Coast. More than 96% of the population now has access to the Optus 3G phone service, which covers an area of more than 650,000 square kilometers. An online locator is available from the Optus 3G phone website to help you find Optus 3G coverage in your area.
Since its inception, the Optus 3G phone network has maintained cost-efficiency by using both new and existing base stations. Its aim is to provide high-quality coverage to all areas, allowing mobile phone users nationwide to enjoy the Optus 3G phone service at affordable rates. The Optus 3G phone network also serves as the base of the company's wireless broadband connection, allowing download speeds from 500 to 1500Kbps. The Optus 3G service is currently undergoing upgrades to incorporate HSDPA technology which supports high-speed downloads.
Features of the Optus 3G phone network
The Optus 3G phone network boasts a wide range of features that lets you fully enjoy your Optus 3G phone. Note that the availability of some features may depend on phone and network support. These include:
- Optus Zoo: Lets you access content directly to your Optus 3G phone from major providers like Google, MySpace, Live TV, and MTV Mobile.
- Mobile Instant Messenger: Associates your email account with online IM platforms so you can chat with your friends using your Optus 3G phone
- FindA: Allows you to view detailed maps from your Optus 3G phone, so you can navigate any area with ease. To use this feature, you may need a GPS-capable Optus 3G phone and a download program so you can update your stored maps.
- Video calling: Lets you place and receive video calls, so you can see the person on the other end of the line. This works best of both parties have a video-capable Optus 3G phone. Rates may be different from regular voice calls.
- MyStatus: Shows you which of your contacts are available before you even dial their numbers. Note that this only works on Optus 3G phone users who also use MyStatus and have agreed to share the application with you.
