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Telstra sends dial-up to the land of retired technology (pictures)

Telstra has announced it will officially retire its dial-up internet service as of December 2015, after 20 years of insane 56kbps speeds. With the few hundred remaining customers losing dial-up by the end of the year (and the ability to download a 150MB video in 6 hours), we take a look at other Telstra technologies that have been retired.

claire-reilly2
claire-reilly2
Claire Reilly
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1 of 13 Telstra

End of an era

Before 4G, the NBN and dial-up, Telstra spruiks the joys of the rotary phone to the public.

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2 of 13 Telstra

The Postmaster-General

A float for the Postmaster-General's Department in the 1956 Moomba parade. Founded in 1901, the Department looked after all telecommunications and post until 1975, when it was split into Telecom and Australia Post.

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3 of 13 Telstra

A phone...for your computer

Long before politician Philip Ruddock quizzed a Parliamentary inquiry about Skype, calling it a "telephone you use on a computer," Telecom was spruiking the computer phone in 1985.

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4 of 13 Telstra

The Ericofon

The Ericofon had a 2-metre spiral cord for 'mobility' and a handset in a nice shade of 'acrylic nail' red.

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5 of 13 Telstra

The Wallfone

The Wallfone, which introduced us to the concept of 'parking the handpiece' when the phone wasn't in use.

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6 of 13 Telstra

The Commander-T

In the '80s, the Commander-T combined a telephone with an intercom, making visits from boy scouts easier than ever before.

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7 of 13 Telstra

A retro advertisement for the Touchfone -- now all but obsolete in Australian homes.

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8 of 13 Telstra

Going mobile

Telecom made a big splash when it launched its mobile network, creatively dubbed 'MobileNet', in the 1980s, sending skydivers down over the Opera House and recruiting plenty of men in Lycra (one of whom appears to be modelling the popular '80s fashion of 'calculater on the chest').

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9 of 13 Telstra

Take it anywhere!

A photograph used to promote the launch of MobileNet.

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10 of 13 Telstra

Freedom

Nothing says freedom like a portable phone bolted onto an 'attache' case.

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11 of 13 Telstra

I said 'sell' McCloy!

Telecom promoted its Mobile Phone as a great solution for the savvy businessman on the go.

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12 of 13 Telstra

Versatility

More marketing for the Telecom Mobile Phone.

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13 of 13 Telstra

Celebrity appeal

'Baby Face' John Burgess put his star cred behind a different wheel to promote Telecom's Mobile Phone.

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