Toshiba has today announced that its Portege Z10t will be the first Windows 8-based Ultrabook/tablet device to incorporate 4G connectivity. Toshiba has partnered with Telstra to offer the new tablet for three months on a range of plans from its launch date on 11 June.
The Z10t is an Ultrabook hybrid device that comes with a detachable keyboard dock and unlike many other detachable-style hybrids, its keyboard is actually backlit. It's primarily a tablet though and can be used for handwriting recognition and other typical slate-based tasks.
On the inside, it has a third generation Intel Core i5 CPU with integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, and it features 4GB and a 128GB solid state drive. Telstra will also be offering a model that uses an Intel Celeron CPU for users who don't need more than just a basic consumption and email device.
The director of Telstra Mobile Broadband, Anthea Roberts, said in a press release that "the Portege Z10t represents an exciting new era in mobile products for Telstra. The convergence of the tablet and laptop meets the growing demand for mobile devices that keep customers both productive and entertained". It's the 29th 4G LTE product to be offered by Telstra.
Managing director of Toshiba Australia, Mark Whittard, added that "The Portege Z10t running on the Telstra Mobile Network is the perfect solution for people who don’t want to juggle multiple devices. The Portege Z10t’s versatility as both a tablet and a powerful PC eliminates the compromises faced with other offerings in the market such as network speed, device performance and simply, the number of devices you need to carry".
Both the Core i5 and Celeron devices are available on plans that have a minimum cost of $2160 over 24 months on Telstra's tablet plan, which is $90 per month ($50 plus $40 for the device payment) and includes 8GB of data per month (to be used within Australia). The Core i5 version can also be purchased with Microsoft Office 365 for an extra cost of $7.90 per month over 24 months.
There is also a Telstra Entertainmer Max bundle plan that offers the Portege Z10t with Telstra's home Internet and phone products, as well as the T-Box and Foxtel on T-Box Get Started, for a minimum cost of $4499 over 24 months, and including a $59 activation fee for new customers. This plan includes 200GB of home Internet data and 500MB of mobile data.
