Orange To Launch Commercial 3G in 2004
Orange, the mobile arm of the France Telecom Group, today announces further progress in the delivery of its vision of a "mobile broadband" experience for customers across many of the company’s major markets.
Orange will be launching commercial 3G services to customers in the UK and France before the end of the year and in addition to the handsets from LG and SonyEricsson that were announced in July, devices from Samsung, Sanyo, Nokia and Motorola will be offered to customers in both countries.
Orange has been working closely with the selected handset manufacturers to develop world-class devices, all of which have been part of extensive customer trials in the UK and France. The first results of this cooperation - the LG U8150, SonyEricsson Z1010, Samsung Z107, Sanyo S750, and Nokia 6630 - will deliver the unique Orange Signature phone experience. All handsets will give simple, intuitive and high-speed access to the Orange World portal and the internet as well as other services such as mobile email, gaming and music downloads.
They will also give customers access to exciting new 3G services including video telephony and video downloads.
The S750 represents Sanyo’s first foray into the European mobile market and builds on its established reputation for high-quality consumer electronic goods.
The handset, which is exclusive to Orange and has been developed in close collaboration between the two companies, will offer a mega pixel camera and a QVGA screen.
As the biggest supplier of digital cameras in Europe, Sanyo has shared its unrivalled expertise in cameras and video with Orange giving customers even better access to multi-media services.
Florian Seiche, Director of Devices, Orange SA comments, "Orange is moving into the 3G market by extending our successful Signature Phone strategy. We remain focussed on delivering to our customers the best possible user experience and so have carefully selected device vendors who also share this objective."
Through the Freemove Alliance, Orange customers will be able to roam with their 3G devices across major towns and cities in Spain, Italy and Germany, in addition to the extensive Orange 3G networks in the UK and France. Orange also announced the signing of two further contracts as part of the framework agreement with Nokia Networks, Nortel Networks and Alcatel signed last year to provide its 3G radio access network (RAN) technology infrastructure across the Orange footprint.
Orange has agreed to purchase UMTS radio access network (RAN) equipment and a full range of professional services and operational support systems from Nokia Networks for Orange Switzerland and Nortel Networks for Mobistar (Belgium) This follows the on-going roll-outs in the UK with Nokia Networks and in France with Alcatel, Nokia Networks and Nortel Networks.
Commenting on their selection, Vivek Badrinath, Chief Technology Officer, Orange SA, said, "Nokia Networks, Nortel Networks and Alcatel are demonstrating extensive technical capabilities, commitment, experience and industry leadership with the work that they are completing on our 3G infrastructure development in the UK and France. The delivery of an outstanding 3G network will allow us to leverage the capabilities of 3G technology to launch world class services to our customer base across the Group."
Orange Switzerland will announce the details of its 3G launch plans including timescales, coverage and offers in due course. Mobistar will launch a 3G offer for the business market in the first half of 2005 and will be studying EDGE-enabled services in the near future.
Orange Romania launched its EDGE network in mid-October and customers are now able to watch videos and browse the internet at speeds that are up to three times faster than GPRS. An EDGE enabled data card has also been launched in Romania, offering similar benefits to business customers who want to access company information on the move. Orange Slovakia will launch its first EDGE services in Q1 2005. Orange France will be deploying EDGE in 2005 to complete the roll-out of its 3G network.
The UK 3G network went live on 19 July with the launch of the 3G Mobile Office Card, targeted initially at business customers. The network was launched with population coverage of 66%, covering all large cities and towns throughout the country, business parks, major rail routes and airports. On 6 September, Orange France launched its 3G data card also aimed at business customers. By the end of 2004, Orange will have 3G coverage in over twenty major cities across France including Paris.
Source: press release
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