I attended the launch this week of Telstra's latest USB Modem, the dual-channel HSPA+ capable so-called "Ultimate USB" modem, something I've written up over at Gizmodo.

The Ultimate USB is a chunky little fella that I'm still in the middle of testing across multiple reception areas, because frankly a mobile broadband test done only in one location isn't worth the pixels or paper it's printed on. Mobile Broadband is infinitely variable, but it's also purchased with the intent of it being actually mobile and limited tests are just that -- limited.

Anyway, at the launch, which was held in Telstra's "Experience Centre" in the middle of Sydney's CBD, I was tapping away notes and intermittently checking my email thanks to another mobile broadband product I'm currently testing that was sat in my pocket. In this case, it's Vodafone's Pocket WiFi, a rebadged Huawei E585 WiFi router powered by an internal battery.

For the record, Vodafone's 3G signal deep in the middle of enemy territory? Not that great. Probably not top of the list of areas where Vodafone Hutchison's looking at improving network reception, but I figure it's worth throwing it out there as a possibility.

In any case, while admiring the potential speeds that the Ultimate USB offers, it's still limited in that it takes up at least one USB port. Probably two due to its chunky construction, depending on where on your notebook you deploy it. That's presuming you want to use the data on a device with a USB port in the first place. The appeal of devices like the Pocket WiFi is that you can serve data to multiple devices no matter the type. All they need is WiFi and they're good to go.

The thought struck me that for all Telstra's posturing about taking a technology lead, it's an area where the big telco is sadly lacking. There are mobile router options out there that will take a mobile SIM from Telstra -- things like Netcomm's MyZone (which I've covered for PC User) or even something like the AximCom MR-102N that'll take a whole USB modem, but none from Telstra itself.

That means any prospective customer wanting mobile shared broadband has no contract options; you've got to stump up for the plan and SIM, which in most cases will come with the USB modem, and then the extra cash for the router itself.

I put the question to Telstra about mobile routers, and once they'd worked out what I meant, the only response I got was that they were "looking into that market with some keen interest."

Which I suspect means they didn't want me to ask that particular question, and instead concentrate on the shiny blue thing in front of me at the time.