Australian LTE pioneer Telstra is aiming to launch smartphones supporting the new network within the next quarter period. In an exclusive interview with Mobile World Live, CEO David Thodey revealed that “the current plan is first quarter next year,” a timeframe which would be at the top end of a previously announced ambition to bring smartphones to its LTE product portfolio in the first half of 2012. “Obviously we’re dealing with Samsung and HTC, and it’s all about the spectrum support, but we think that’s a good opportunity,” Thodey noted. “And we think that’ll change the whole take-up.”