Orange adds Motorola to Microsoft handset range

 

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By Matt Whipp

Posted on 15 Sep 2003 at 10:55

Orange has announced it is to offer the Motorola MPx200 in the UK, adding to its Microsoft-based handset range which, it says, have been 'the most successful phones ever in terms of data usage'.

The MPx200 is the third Smartphone-based handset from Orange, which was the first operator to offer such a phone, last October - the Orange SPV. A spokesperson for the company told us that the Smartphone handsets are 'the most successful phones ever in terms of data usage'.

'The Orange SPV generates the most data revenues for Orange out of all its handsets. We believe this is because we managed to successfully marry compelling services with easy, one-touch access to those services. Data ARPU (average revenue per user) for the SPV in the first half of 2003 was, on average, €15 per customer per month,' he said. 'By 2005, Orange expects 25 per cent of revenues to come from data services - that's about €10 per customer. As you can see, with the SPV range we've already exceeded that.'

Pieter Knook, VP of Mobile and Embedded Devices at Microsoft, said: 'I am confident that Microsoft's relationship with Orange and Motorola will go from strength to strength, and we're looking forward to developing even more exciting products together in the near future.'

The MPx200 will be available next month for around £239.99 inc VAT depending on the Orange contract.

The colour phone uses Microsoft's Windows Mobile Smartphone platform, offering office tools, such as Outlook contacts, calendar and email, and Windows Media Player for video and music. You can sync the phone with desktop applications.

It also boasts an MMS client, although you'll need to buy a separate camera attachment to send your own snaps. It also claims to offer 3D games.

Orange also offers its 'Signature' services with the phone, such as Orange Backup, which allows a customer to back up personal data on the Orange network. If the phone is lost then this information can be quickly restored on the replacement handset.

Tom Lynch, President of Motorola's Personal Communications Sector, said: 'The Motorola MPx200, combined with Orange's services and intelligent network, the power of Windows Mobile, and the quality guarantee of a Motorola mobile phone, is a breakthrough experience for the mobile professional. In addition to extending the office desktop to the wireless world, the MPx200's powerful multimedia features makes their life simpler, smarter, more synchronized and a whole lot more fun.'