Alcatel's Australian online store set to launch before the end of April

Alcatel is set to launch its local online store in the coming weeks, allowing Australian customers to get their hands on Alcatel phones that telcos don't end up ranging. While at Mobile World Congress last week, Alcatel Managing Director for South East Asia Pacific Sam Skontos told WhistleOut that the company hopes to go live within the next six to eight weeks. 

The Idol 4s will be one of the first smartphones offered through Alcatel's online store, priced around $499 with its virtual reality headset packaging. Key specifications for the Idol 4s include a 5.5-inch Quad HD display, Snapdragon 652 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, a 3,000mAh battery, a rear-facing fingerprint reader, and a 16MP rear-facing camera. The Idol 4s' box doubles as a Google Cardboard style VR headset.

Alcatel isn't planning on competing with its carrier partners, and will only stock devices that aren't available through local telcos. A spokesperson told WhistleOut that the store will provide links to telcos ranging Alcatel phones where appropriate.

The store will also allow Alcatel to sell accessories for smartphones that telcos might not pick up, such as the modular back covers for the upcoming A5 LED.

Alex Choros

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Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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