Sony Ericsson's XPERIA Play Android smartphone
Telstra has beaten rival Optus to the launch of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play Android phone, with the device available in selected Telstra 'flagship stores' from tomorrow, priced at $960 outright.
Read our comprehensive Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play review and check out our guide to the best upcoming smartphones in 2011.
UPDATE: Optus has just informed us that it has been selling the XPERIA Play since Monday 30 May, which differs to Sony Ericsson's statement that it would be available from 8 June.
Sony Ericsson originally announced earlier today that the XPERIA Play would be available through both Telstra and Optus on 8 June, with Optus revealing it will sell the device for $0 on its $79 cap over 24 months from next Wednesday.
Telstra has now revealed that the XPERIA Play will be available tomorrow through selected Telstra stores and online for $20 per month on its $79 freedom connect plan over 24 months. The plan includes $800 worth of eligible calls, unlimited standard national text and 2GB of data to use in Australia. The XPERIA Play will also be available to purchase outright through Telstra for $960.
Telstra's "flagship stores" will be the first to stock the XPERIA Play, with additional Telstra stores across Australia receiving deliveries by the start of next week. For a full list of flagship Telstra stores, see Telstra's blog post on the XPERIA Play.
The Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play features a 4in multitouch display, two touch-sensitive joysticks, a D-pad and four of the PlayStation's famous control buttons; triangle, square, circle and X. The XPERIA Play also has two shoulder buttons in a bid to recreate the full PlayStation gaming experience.
The Australian model of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play initially comes with six pre-loaded games: FIFA 10, Bruce Lee — Dragon Warrior, Sims 3, Madden NFL 11, Star Battalion, and Crash Bandicoot.
