Work hard, play hard with the Sony Xperia Z
Filed under: 4G, consumer, customers, mobile phone, smart phone, Smartphone, technology
In January we announced we’ll be ranging the Sony Xperia Z – Sony’s new flagship Android smartphone. We know you’ve all been waiting eagerly for it and now it’s here.
The impressive new 4G-enabled smartphone boasts features such as a 13.1 megapixel fast-capture camera and brings Sony’s TV expertise to the smartphone with the razor sharp Reality Display.
You might have heard last month we announced we will start providing LTE over a second frequency band (900MHz) which allows us to deliver better in-building and regional 4G connectivity. The Sony Xperia Z is one of our first smartphones that is 900-LTE ready meaning customers will soon be able to get the super-fast 4G speeds in more places than ever*.
In great news: the Sony Xperia Z has also earned our Blue Tick coverage rating. This means it’s tested as delivering superior handheld coverage in regional and rural areas on the Telstra Mobile Network making it a great choice for our regional customers.
From today, Telstra customers can pre-order the Sony Xperia Z in black, white or purple at www.telstra.com.au/xperia-z. The Sony Xperia Z will be available in Telstra stores from Tuesday 26 March.
Pricing
The first 1000 customers who pre-order their Sony Xperia Z online on an Every Day Connect Plan™ or Business Performance Plan before Tuesday 26 March will receive a free Sony wireless NFC speaker valued at $129.
Consumer customers can purchase the Sony Xperia Z outright from Telstra for only $624. Or can choose to sign up to the $60 Every Day Connect Plan™ with a $3 handset repayment per month (after using an included MRO Bonus), with $600 worth of included calls and MMS, unlimited SMS and 1GB of data, all to standard Australian numbers (excludes use overseas) each month. Min cost over 24 months is $1,512.
Business Customers can purchase the Sony Xperia Z on the $60 Business Performance Plan with $3 handset repayment per month (after using an included MRO Bonus), with $600 worth of included calls and MMS, unlimited SMS and 1GB of data, all to standard Australian numbers (excludes use overseas) each month. Min cost over 24 months is $1512.
* Typical download speeds of 2Mbps to 40Mbps are available in all capital CBDs, (meaning within 5km from GPO), associated airports and selected regional locations (3km from regional town centre). Outside these areas, the device will automatically switch over to Telstra’s High Speed Packet Access or HSPA 3G enabled network and speeds will be less. Actual speeds vary due to factors such as location, distance from the base station, local terrain, user numbers, hardware & software configuration and download source/upload destination.To check coverage areas and find out more about Telstra 4G, head to www.telstra.com/4g.
Now if I go into a Telstra store to purchase one outright after the 26th will they actually sell it to me? I’ve played this game before and all of a sudden they decide in store that their stock is for plans only, even though I am currently with Telstra on contract.
Hi there,
Customers will be able to buy the phone outright in all Telstra-owned stores
Ok, how do I tell which ones are Telstra owned? Maybe I’ve just been unlucky and tried at dodgey franchised stores before
Hi Kym,
Jump onto this site and search your local store – if it has an * next to the address then it is not a Telstra-owned store.
http://www.telstra.com.au/store-locator/
In other words Majority or Telstra Shops are Franchied where as a small portion are what they call “Telstra Owned” Your best bet is to go to a dealer like Fone Zone or JB HiFi, they will sell it outright on the Next G network
Went to Telstra store at Chatswood Westfield. The staff told me it is the manager’s decision if she is willing to sell it outright. And I think that store is Telstra owned(correct me if I am wrong).
Does head office communicates to all the stores regarding the outright policy? Or she is just making that up?
Hi Emily,
This isn’t good to hear… As per the company decision (and the communications we provide to stores), the Sony Xperia Z should be available outright in Telstra stores from 26 March. I’ve passed your comment on to the manager for the Chatswood area.
Hi. I just called the Burwood Telstra store and they also informed me that it was up to the manager whether or not they will sell it outright.
Will the phone have any Telstra logos on it? Also will getting stock from Telstra mean android updates will be even further delayed because updates will need to go via Sony AND Telstra?
Hi Kym,
The Telstra logo is not on the box or the phone – it does appear on the box in a ‘manufactured by Telstra’ sense. We work with our vendors to get the software as quickly as possible to our customers but need to test and ensure the software is up to our standards to compliment our world leading network.
I’ve pre-ordered mine
Could someone please tell me when they will start shipping them out?
We expect to begin shipping pre-orders from tomorrow.
Just wondering has the shipping begun yet? Really excited about my new phone
Hi Nelson,
Shipping has commenced this week. When your phone is shipped you will receive an email confirming that your phone has shipped with a tracking number to check the status of delivery.
I preordered mine within hours of being able to. How can I confirm that I’ll be getting the nfc speaker?
Hi Sam,
If you have pre-ordered the phone online, you will get the speaker delivered with your handset
Hi,
Will the phone be unlocked?
Hi Richard,
Yes it will be.
Hi,
I have always paid an extra monthly amount to pay out the phone over 12 months. Why is it that I can’t I pre-order the phone over this contract period?
Will I be able to do this from the 26th?
Hi Dane,
Not too sure what’s going on here, if you’ve paid out the MRO owing on your previous phone then you may be able to switch contracts. Have you tried chatting to our 24×7 Live Chat customer service team via this link: http://tinyurl.com/24×7-service
Hi,
will the phone be locked to Telstra network, and if so can it be unlocked, and what’s the fee for that?
Hi Dmitry,
The phone will be unlocked
Hi, Could you please tell me when I will be able to buy the phone from Telstra local store?
Hi Marin,
Next Tuesday – March 26 is the day. So excited for this phone!
I had a look for a Telstra owned store on the Gold Coast but they are all franchises. I don’t mind travelling towards Brisbane to find a Telstra owned store, but could you please advise what would be the closest Telstra owned store to postcode 4215, Southport.
I take it one can’t purchase the Xperia Z outright from Telstra online?
Hi David,
I’ve just checked online and all our stores around the Southport area are Telstra-owned
(The ones with an * mean it isn’t Telstra owned).
Are these still on track for deliveries to start today? Is there a number i can call to confirm if my phone has been delivered?
Hi there,
Shipping has commenced so deliveries are on schedule
There is a phone number on the order confirmation email you can ring – however you will receive an email confirming that your phone has shipped with a tracking number to check the status of delivery.
Hi,
Am I able to preorder the Xperia Z outright from the Telstra website if I am not a Telstra customer? It say’s above that the phone is unlocked so I assume it should’nt be a problem.
Thanks
Hi Justin,
You can pre-order from Telstra.com whether you are a customer or not, however we do not sell post-paid handsets outright online.
Hi,
Can I pre-order an outright version of the Sony Xperia Z from Telstra now?
If so, how can I proceed with this?
Thanks
Hi Eugene,
You can pre-order from Telstra.com, however we do not sell post-paid handsets outright online so you will need to wait until the stores begin selling it next week
Any word on whether Telstra will be stocking the Sony Xperia Tablet Z?
Hi there Craig,
I’m unable to comment on the tablet, sorry
I’m confused then. For Harbour Town there is no asterisk on the address, but on ringing them they said they were a franchise store, so I took the “*Telstra Licensed Store. Prices at Telstra Licensed Store may differ to prices at Telstra stores and Telstra Shop Online” down the bottom of Harbour Town’s listing to mean that’s how you determined which stores were which.
I tried to ring my second preference, Australia Fair, but there was no reply.
Hi David,
Hhhmmm, I’ll check with the Telstra site owner, it may be out of date in this case. I’ll get in contact with the Australia Fair store for you and send you an email with what their response
Hello, is there any info on things such as:
- locked bootloader
- Telstra specific hardware (i.e. like the galaxy s 2 was I9100T instead of I9100)
Obviously the above mentioned would not be ideal for someone like me who has no intention on staying on the stock Telstra firmware, and would drive away said interest in the phone.
Regarding Telstra branded firmware, ain’t nobody got time for that! Slows down update releases (GNexus was still on ICS months after JB came out).
It slows up the phone having all the useless apps that are preloaded by telstra, takes up storage and generally looks rather repellent with surplus icons cluttering the app-drawer.
Hi Dan,
Sorry it’s taken a few days to get back to you – have been chasing the team to get the answer to these questions. As per previous devices, the bootloader can be unlocked by the customer visiting the Sony website and agreeing to the terms (e.g. impacts on warranty, some features will be inaccessible to protect IP like DRM keys). http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/
The Telstra hardware, aside from the specific TAC, is still the same model as the LTE device used globally (except the LTE devices for Japan and the Americas). There is also a global non-LTE variant of the device.
Hope this helps
Is it possible to buy the outright in any store today?
Hi Joe,
Not til next Tuesday – sorry!
Next Tuesday’s the day!
Hi,
Can I order the purple one in store and buy outright?
Hi Emily,
Sorry Emily, just need to correct my last message. The purple one is an online exclusive. My apologies.
I’ve been to a few Telstra owned store and no body have any idea when/if they are selling them outright. They just point fingers back to online…..
Is the purple or white colour available for outright purchase?
Hi there John,
Sorry about this, sometimes it takes a few days for the message to get relayed to all stores. The white will be available in-store for outright purchase.
How do i purchase the purple one outright?
Hi John,
Unfortunately the purple is only for online purchase and therefore cannot be bought outright.
Will this phone be unlocked and what will the price be?
Hi Mark,
Yes the phone is unlocked and it’s $624 outright
Will I be able to preorder in store?
ie, place a deposit and pick up on the 26th?
Thanks
Sorry Peter, you won’t be able to do this. Talk to your local store about stock levels and see if there is something they can do though
I checked in the following two Telstra owned stores..i was said, they WILL not get the stock on march 26th….
1. Rockhampton
Tenenacy E04 Stockland Rockhampton
87 Yaamba Road (corner of Bruce Hwy)
2. North Rockhampton
Shop 222 Stockland Rockhampton Shopping Centre
Cnr Yaamba Road and Bruce Highway
===================
can you comment on phone availability or when to expect the phone in these stores?
Hi Karthik,
I’ve just checked and all Telstra owned stores will be stocking the phone from next Tuesday so it may just be that the message took a few days to filter through to our stores. Please check-in with the stores for availability today, or over the weekend as they will have submitted the order form by now
Hi, is this the 4G model?
Sure is! Not going to lie, it’s a pretty snazzy device!
Hi Gigi,
Is the purple one available for ONLINE outright purchase?
Or purple is only available for 24-months contract?
Hi Kyle,
The purple is exclusive to online so can’t be bought outright as we don’t sell outright phones online. Sorry!
Hi, Do you know which Telstra stores will have stock of the phone on Tuesday for selling outright in Sydney CBD area? I was advised that some Telstra stores will choose not to sell outright due to demand. So people will have to sign up on mobile phone plans.
Sorry Richard, you’ll have to check with each store individually. Telstra owned stores will be selling them outright, but I’m unable to say how our licensee/franchised stores will be selling them.
Only a few more sleeps…
This idea of Telstra franchise or owned stores is an absolute nonsense. When McDonalds or Harvey Norman advertise you know that the product range, and/or price is going to be consistent at all their stores. I still don’t know which type of store is which around the Gold Coast. I give up!
What is the warranty being offered on the phone when purchased outright?
Hi Pip,
All Telstra mobile phones come with a 24-month manufacturer warranty.
I have called over 7 so-called Telstra-owned stores in the area, and each have given different reasons and excuses for not selling the Xperia Z outright. They say they will not be selling the phone outright as their customers are priority.
Not one store anywhere that I’ve come across and asked will be selling the phone outright on the 26th for $624, as was stated.
SO what’s going on?? Telstra Australia says one thing, but each Telstra store says another.
This is a joke. Not only has the rest of the world had this phone for a month already, but, you cant even get a straight answer from anybody in the biggest telecommunications network in Australia.
Absolutely true! I called on few Telstra stores as well, same response. Gigi, you should be able to point at least one store that DOES sell the phone for $624, shouldn’t you?
So am I able to actually purchase this phone today? My partner has just been rejected from two stores (Seven Hills and Parramatta NSW) as they said stock was reserved for plans only.
Can this be confirmed and can I be contacted on this matter as I called customer service who were of no help. Thanks.
I gave up.
I’m ordering from overseas. Save me from all those phone calls and travelling into the stores talking to dummies. Nobody knows what they are doing and they are not keen to sell.
And, i get to choose whatever colour i like.
Kogan are selling this phone online for $729. They just put the price back up from $679 after they learnt Telstra’s press release on the $624 price was a croc. We’ve been made to hang on here like dummies being promised, even with “sleep countdowns”, for something which was just not going to happen. Why are companies allowed to operate like this in Australia?
Hi David,
Think there’s been a mix-up with communications somewhere along the line… I can confirm that Telstra’s price is definitely $624 outright.
So who is lying? Telstra stores or Telstra online, seeing as plenty of people are being refused outright purchases.
And can you explain what exactly is wrong with your store staff who obviously won’t even check this site or call head office if this is indeed a simple “communication” issue?
Your staff are happy to turn customers, some current Telstra customers, away simply because they’re not as profitable in the sale they want? Really?
Just go and get it from JB HI-Fi or Harvey Norman, they sell it for the same price.
Gigi,
I visited four Telstra stores around Sydney today, none of which had an asterisk on the store locator to indicate being a franchise, but they all refused to sell the phone outright. After spending most of my morning on the phone to customer service, I was assured by one of the representatives that he had called the Pitt st store in Syndey and that they were selling the phone outright. But, after going out of my way to visit this store, they denied having recieved and such call and claimed all of their stock had been allocated for weeks.
Does anyone know of any stores in the Western Sydney to CBD area that will actually sell the Xperia Z as advertised?
Hi Gigi
So if I go to the Telstra store today, and if the ysay can’t sell it outright.
What can I do? any suggestions?
Thanks a lot
This is a very good question? Any response? What can a customer who has travelled to one of your stores based on your advertised offer only to be treated like a second class customer actually do? What will telstra do to help them?
Hello,
I am confused with the release date of this phone. According to previous comments the phone is meant to be release on the 26 March (yesterday). However when I ask my work to purchase this phone through a business based plan, Telstra have advised them the phone won’t be released till 9 APR? Which date is the correct date?
Hi SY,
This is strange, the phone is already available to business customers. You can speak to our Business customer service team online here for more info you like: https://livechat.telstra.com/TB:Business:Default
Did what TD said. In fact I may buy one from Harvey Norman as well.
I never heard back from Telstra at Harbour Town so I went off and purchased one at $615 at JB-HiFi. I am so happy with the phone. Beats me why a retailer, Telstra, would not want to sell this phone outright just in case a “customer” might want to purchase one. As if retailers in Australia can afford to turn away sales. It’s no wonder so many people are buying online these days. One would think a retailer might want to move as many as they can get, as fast as they can get them. First in, first served one would think. As if Sony are going to manufacture them in limited numbers. I see Kogan have put their price down yet again today. They can’t make up their minds. But who would wait 2-3 weeks when you can buy them cheaper than Kogan, retail.
is the outright lock or unlock
Unlocked
Hi,
For all XZ lovers out there. I bought Xperia Z from JB Hi FI in Top Ryde for $624 last Thursday. Forget Telstra stores… JB sells same product. It has Telstra preloaded apps too.
JB get their stock from Telstra, don’t reward Telstra at all go to Harvey Norman or dick smith. I note Telstra reps on here are just ignoring people’s comments about stores ignoring outright customers, they clearly don’t care about your business at all, why help them.
My Xperia Z (android 4.1.2, build 10.1.A.1.350) has poor WIFI performance! Is the latest build available to Telstra customers?
I tried to buy this phone outright. It came out months ago! how come Telstra West Lakes SA won’t sell me the phone outright?
Hi Molly,
Please drop a note to our Live Chat team. They’re more knowledgeable about our products than I!
Az
I want a purple one, but on telstra web only b&w
How do i get???
Hi Tracey,
I’m not sure about the purple version, try our Live Chat team. They may be able to help!
Az