Telstra has made a small but welcome change to its Telstra TV program – any Telstra customer can now buy the device and use it on their own broadband connection, regardless of their home ISP. Until now you’ve only been able to acquire and use the device if you’re using a Telstra broadband connection, but the restriction to Telstra’s network is now removed.
The company says they’ve already moved 1.4 million units to date, and that’s with their on-plan exclusivity in place. With the device now available to everyone, that number could increase drastically and make the platform one of Australia’s most popular devices for streaming.
Telstra TV is one is the few devices in the Australian market with apps from all the major streaming and catch-up TV services, and it’ll also let run your antenna through it – so you don’t need to switch away from its input port for anything.
It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a streaming box to add to your home network. Check out Alex’s review of the third generation Telstra TV, or head over to the Telstra TV site if you’re ready to take the plunge.
As for the requirement of being a Telstra customer? Well, the fine print on the product page says you need a Telstra ID to activate the device, and that means you need an active Telstra service — or, you need a friend or relative with one who doesn’t mind sharing their details just for device activation.
