OPTUS TO LAUNCH NEW MICROSOFT WINDOWS PHONE 7 LG AND SAMSUNG DEVICES WITH XBOX 360 KINECT AND HP MINI NETBOOK BUNDLES

Optus announced today that it will launch the Samsung OMNIA 7 and LG Optimus 7 smartphones, powered by Microsoft Windows Phone 7, exclusively to Optus mobile customers at launch, in late October. Optus customers will also have the exclusive opportunity to bundle either of these devices with the hotly anticipated Xbox 360 Kinect when it launches in November or with a HP Mini Netbook and business mobile broadband connection from late October (for business customers).

The Samsung OMNIA 7 and the LG Optimus 7 will be available for $0 upfront on the $79 Optus Cap plan for consumer customers or $0 upfront on the $79 Business Complete Ultimate plan for business customers, both plans are available on a 24 month contract with a minimum spend of $1896. Pricing details for the Xbox 360 Kinect bundle will be available closer to launch.

Michael Smith, Managing Director of Optus Consumer, said “Not only are we excited to launch these great new Windows Phone 7 devices, we will also be the only Australian mobile operator to offer the amazing new Xbox 360 Kinect exclusively to our customers when they bundle it with either the Samsung OMNIA 7 or LG Optimus 7 for a limited time. This is a fantastic mobile and entertainment package which will be in store just in time for Christmas.

“Windows Phone 7 will allow customers to take their Xbox LIVE mobile, by letting them connect and play with friends and community wherever they are. By bundling your Windows 7 device with the Xbox 360 Kinect, exclusively at Optus from November, there’s no excuse not to stay on top of your game, at home or on the go,” Mr Smith said.

Additionally, business customers can bundle either the Samsung OMNIA 7 or LG Optimus 7 with an HP Mini netbook when they sign up to a 24 month contract. This bundle will be available for a limited period and enable customers to share their data allowance between the handset and netbook. (updated pricing and availability to be announced).

Phil Offer, Marketing Director of Optus Small and Medium Business, said, “Optus is pleased to support the launch of Microsoft Windows Phone 7 as the Australian carrier of the Samsung OMNIA 7 and LG Optimus 7 devices. As a leading provider of smartphones, these phones increase choice for business customers and our great value plans make it possible for customers to use them with confidence. We’ve also trained up our business specialists and support teams to help customers get the right technology for their individual needs and have it swiftly connected to their business.

“On top of this we are also launching a special bundle for our business customers that will bring together a powerful Mobile Office experience combining the new Samsung and LG Windows Phone 7 devices with a state of art HP Mini netbook. This will allow our customers to view and edit Microsoft Office documents on their Windows Phone 7, use Microsoft Office on their HP Mini Netbook and save documents to OneNote or SharePoint or sync with Windows Live to access on either device,” Mr Offer said.

Windows Phone 7 is a different kind of phone designed to bring together what you care about most. It’s a phone that finds information and presents it at the right time, making it glanceable. A phone that organises what you love so finding those things is easier and faster. Windows Phone 7 simplifies basic every-day tasks – like managing email or taking and sharing pictures – so you can do more in fewer steps. With Windows Phone 7, the things that matter most like people, games, music and video, photos and office productivity are organised through integrated experiences known as Hubs and fueled by the rich experiences of Xbox LIVE, Bing, and Office.

Samsung’s first Windows Phone 7 smartphone, the OMNIA 7 is designed for the entertainment lover with a mobile lifestyle. Sporting a 4-inch SUPER AMOLED touch screen, 1GHz application processor and a 5 megapixel camera, the Samsung OMNIA 7 combines speed and style to deliver a premium entertainment experience. Encased in a sleek metallic body the Samsung OMNIA 7 is as stylish as it is smart with unique features such as Now Hub, which brings world news, weather, stocks and your daily schedule together in one place, and Photo-Sharing for quick and easy uploading of images to your social communities.

Offering the glance-and-go experience of Windows Phone 7, the LG Optimus 7 boasts unique features exclusive to the device. Building upon Microsoft’s highly-anticipated new mobile operating-system, the LG Optimus 7 will give people the ability to do more in fewer steps. The LG Optimus 7 stands out from the crowd with exceptional and unmatched abilities. The five megapixel camera not only captures brilliant imagery but acts as an informative tour-guide with the use of Augmented Reality. Simply tilt the device’s camera towards the ground for a localised map, ahead for useful points of interest overlaid onto what is seen, or to the sky for the latest weather forecast. Real-time information about shopping, dining, weather, entertainment and much more is merely at the tilt of the LG Optimus 7.

For more information on Optus mobile, please visit www.optus.com.au/mobile

Media contact:
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 8082 8432