Fat fingers are basically covered as well. It uses algorithms to expand the target area for common letter frequencies, expected next letter, etc. There's a nice video on it if you haven't seen.

Ok, like to see some serious analysis on this once other plans appear. Also any small print on the free Wifi - that alone could be a deal maker for me.

excellant.
how exciting.
anyone else excited now?

I also agree! Visual Voicemail makes it one heck of a useful and sexy product!!!!!!

And yes, I too have a black hole in my apartment with Optus. Always bad reception. And it sucks since my mobile is my main phone. I don't have a home phone. So I am hoping the switch to Telstra (preeminent, but nonetheless, impending) will be a change...and hopefully more coverage.

Apple announced at the WWDC keynote that Apple are going to allow companies to internally distribute apps for the iPhone. But they still are different to any other app on the app store. My guess would be that Telstra are going to do use this system.

I doubt that Apple have Telstra special access to the iPhone. After all Apple are not budging at all when it comes to allowing Adobe to install Flash. Adobe is a far more important company to Apple then Telstra is.

I hope not. The enterprise level of control of distributing apps is different the App store. If Telstra distribute apps that way, it means they could work around ToA with the SDK, e.g making VoIP, making Bigpond music default choice for buying music (YIKES) etc. Which also means Telstra can do a remote wipe if they feel like it, as this is part of the enterprise feature. (joking on this point, but could be true).

why is everyone terribly excited, nothing has been announced to what those plans entail except free wifi, which in all fairness, isnt that big of a deal if you dont spend time in the cbd.

everyone is getting way excited at the moment, wait and see the real value, costs of what telstra has to offer.

I will be very interested to see what sort of apps Telstra have planned. There could actually be something good!

What do we think will be done? WhereIs maps instead of Google (shudder), Sensis searching instead of Google? (horrible)? Some sort of White/Yellow pages app? (Actually useful maybe)

I can't believe that in 11 days I will sign up for another Telstra service - voluntarily.

I am really excited about Telstra's plans. It will be interesting to see how the other carriers shape up.

Now we'll see if Telstra can pull it's finger out and invest in more support for Apple products. Their support for Macs is close to non-existent.

Even if telstra put their crap on it, a restore in itunes would remove the crapware cause the firmware gets downloaded from Apple servers so then there will be no telstra crap. i also think that apple would put a stop to any pre-loaded crap like that. cause telstra doesn;t manufacture the iPhone.

Yep, white and yellow pages app would actually be very useful, especially if they integrate it with google maps.
Also would be useful would be the Foxtel TV Guide, allowing you to remote record to your IQ from your iPhone.

Just checked the Telstra wi-fi hotspot list. Looks like they basically cover the whole Sydney and Melbourne CBDs, and also Starbucks, McDonalds, Qantas Clubs (which was free wifi anyway), Borders bookshops and a stack of hotels. That is pretty exciting - not dependent on data rates but free!

They probably charged you to even just tap on the application icon.

Nah, I think I like some sort of train/tram tracker that actually tell me when my next f**** train will arrive. ;-) and free.

Geez, the Intarmahwebby is fast! Just snapped these while I was out to dinner tonight :

Telco in Smith St, Melbs (1) (2)