Australian telecommunications company Telstra has notified its customers via message that pre-orders for Microsoft's next-generation console will be available "soon."

According to Press Start, customers who sign up for Xbox Series X alerts from Telstra will have exclusive access to Xbox Series X pre-orders through their Xbox All Access subscription. This is Microsoft's subscription service that bundles the Xbox console, games, and access to Xbox Live into one recurring monthly fee.

"Pre-orders for the Xbox Series X with Xbox All Access will be available soon. This offer is exclusive to Telstra customers, so Telstra postpaid cell phone, mobile broadband, or home internet service is required," the message states.

While this pre-order offer appears to be exclusive to Xbox All Access subscribers, it is quite indicative that Microsoft is in a position to begin accepting pre-orders for the Xbox Series X. So, it is reasonable to expect that preorders outside of the subscription program will be placed fairly soon.

The Xbox Series X is expected to launch in "Holiday 2020". This means that it will be released in November, which means that there are only four months left until the new console is available.

Therefore, August seems like a good time for Microsoft to gauge the appetite for the Xbox Series X. The company will not want to underestimate demand and leave Xbox fans frustrated at not being able to get their hands on a new console.

We expect to hear something about the price of the Xbox Series X as well, as pre-orders are expected to begin soon. It may also pave the way for an Xbox Series S reveal. In a cynical view, it is possible that Microsoft will start taking pre-orders for the Xbox Series X prior to the reveal of the lower-performance but less expensive gaming console in order to encourage people to replace their flagships.

If Xbox Series X pre-orders begin this month, Sony is expected to follow suit to keep up with its rivals. So far, there has been no official announcement regarding the PS5's price or when pre-orders will begin.