Telstra T-Hub taken for a test drive

There are many consumers like me who are looking to get a bit  more value for the monthly investment in home communications services from Telstra, which basically owns the consumer fixed-line voice market and a dominant share among ISPs.

The T-Hub requires that you use Telstra for your voice and internet services. This lets Telstra deliver integrated services on the tablet while still providing fixed-line quality voice and other services.

For an outright purchase price of $299 you receive a tablet device with a docking station, a DECT base station and cordless handset.

This means that you have a device for data applications and two devices for voice as the tablet connects to both the DECT base station as well as your Bigpond service via Wi-Fi.

The T-Hub tablet fits right into the consumer electronics look with a black framed seven-inch touch display providing access to voice features, internet access and a range of useful Telstra applications.

I'm using it in my kitchen which makes it very convenient for both voice and data access. The tablet provides hands-free calling and you can use the data services whilst you are on a call which is handy for note taking or checking calendars.

Setup is very straightforward and you are quickly underway once you have provided your Bigpond login details, Wi-Fi security code, post code and phone number details.

Applications such as news, weather, and sport provide a quick and easy way to stay up to date. The tablet synchronises with your Bigpond webmail account so you can easily manage your contacts from your desktop, the tablet and the handset.

Aside from Telstra's applications there are T-Hub versions of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and internet radio access, which is great when the kids have friends over and you don't want them sitting for hours on your desktop in the study.

In addition the T-hub can act as a media device to display photos or play audio using either the USB port or the SD card slot. If you don't already have cordless handsets and an answering machine then the T-Hub is a competitively priced option which provides a lot more features than just voice services.

Even if like me you already have cordless handsets, another couple are always handy. With the looks and functionality that the T-Hub provides the kitchen becomes even more productive as family and digital activities blend and the T-Hub get used by everyone for all sorts of stuff.