Australian Android war heats up between telcos

While it may be Winter in the land down under, Aussie telcos are heating it up with the launch of a whole bunch of sugary Android goodies.
First up is Vodafone Hutchinson Australia (VHA) which launched Google’s Nexus One on July 1^st for “free” on a 24 month $79 plan. VHA noted that, for now, Nexus One stock is limited, so the firm is limiting the phone to online sales only.

Vodafone has taken a beating in Australian IT related forums over its pricing of the Nexus One, with many seeing it as far too expensive considering the six month lag behind the US launch. Many Aussie consumers already see the phone as a bit ‘old,’ despite the fact Vodafone is launching it alongside new and improved value cap plans.
Optus, meanwhile, has launched both the Motorola Milestone (also known as the Droid) and the Samsung Galaxy S which it has snagged on a one month exclusivity deal. The Galaxy S will also be available “for free” on a $59, 24 month contract and the Milestone dropping in just behind it “for free” on a $49, 24 month contract
Telstra has responded to both these launches by doing the unexpected and being competitive for the first time in recent memory by dropping the Telstra exclusive HTC Desire pricing from “free” on a 24 month $79 plan all the way down to “free” on a $49 plan.
No word yet about whether Optus or Vodafone will allow their phones to be sold by their value oriented brands Virgin or 3, but with the exception of the Nexus One remaining exclusively under Vodafone’s brand, it does seem likely.
All in all, these announcements mean better competition and cheaper phones for punters in Australia, which is always a good thing!