Telstra ’Bluey’ roars into Bathurst

Australia’s biggest mobile, interactive product experience marquee, the Telstra Bluey’ was unveiled today at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercars event.

The second biggest truck of its kind in the world, the custom built vehicle was transformed from a standard b-double truck into a 7 metre high, two storey, high-tech Telstra and BigPond experience for fans.

Justin Milne, Group Managing Director, Telstra Media said Telstra is thrilled to be able to launch the truck first to V8 Supercar fans.

"As a sponsor of V8 Supercars, BigPond is excited to deliver a dynamic facility for fans to get hands-on experience of the very latest Telstra and BigPond products and services.

“Thanks to the truck’s portability and the latest structural and hydraulic engineering, we can now take the experience of Telstra’s services right to the door of Australians as they enjoy major sporting and cultural events around the country.”

The truck, which took five months to build, takes only hours to transform from a roadworthy vehicle to a two-tiered facility with consumer experience and sales environment downstairs and a corporate hospitality and viewing platform upstairs.

Samsung, Telstra’s technology partners for the truck has supplied the latest screens, laptops, phones and digital media backdrop ’wall’ that demonstrates BigPond content and the Telstra Next G™ network capabilities.

’Bluey’ is open to all visitors at Bathurst, who are invited to experience the latest products and services from Telstra and BigPond, as well as enter for a chance to win some fantastic prizes, including a trip to the Sydney Telstra 500, on 4-6 December. The truck also acts as a sales outpost for any local Telstra dealer’s sales store at an event.

For the first time, V8 Supercar fans can send their HeroMessage®’ of support from Telstra ’Bluey’ to any of the 64 competitors racing to become this year’s King of the Mountain.

With a quick change in digital branding the truck can take on a new look to appear dressed to suit at major events around the country. ’Bluey’s’ next stops include the remaining V8Supercar events such as the Sydney Telstra 500, the Golf Masters in Melbourne in November and the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2010.

Self sufficient in technology, connectivity and power, ’Bluey’ is truly the “Telstra on wheels” that can hit the road to set up and function almost anywhere in Australia.
Quick facts:

* The truck’s floor space when erected is 180 metres squared - almost the size of the average Australian house at 227.6 m squared
* The inside space is 12 meters long, and 8 meters wide upstairs, 7 meters wide downstairs
* Fitted with a one tonne crane, to lift the contents of the A trailer to fit-out the B trailer when on site.
* The build involves one box being lifted above another - from an engineering and hydraulic perspective this is an Australian first.
* The ’top box’ weighs approximately 8 tonne - the whole truck weighs approximately 25 tonnes.
* ’Bluey’ can withstand 20 knot winds
* It was built by Titan Trailers of Wangaratta.
* There are 22 screens in ’Bluey’, supplied by Samsung, 2 of which are large touch screens and 13 of which make up 2 large media walls (9 x downstairs and 4 x upstairs)
* There are 12 laptops, online to enjoy live BigPond content
* Downstairs has a fully functional Telstra retail shop
* Upstairs is fully air conditioned
* For safety reasons, instead of glass, the truck features Lexan - a polycarbonate resin thermoplastic - the same product used to make bullet proof glass
* When at an event, ’Bluey’ is a registered sales outlet for the local Telstra dealer.