, September 15 2003London — Orange, Motorola and Microsoft today unveiled the Motorola MPx200 – with Microsoft®
Windows Mobile (TM) software — combining the familiarity of the desktop computer with the convenience and accessibility of a mobile phone. The Motorola MPx200 is aimed at professional consumers and is the latest phone in the Orange Signature handset range — a series of phones designed to marry the best customer experience with exclusive Orange services.
Today’s news follows Orange and Motorola’s alliance announcement made in June and Microsoft and Motorola’s alliance announcement made today. It also marks another major landmark for Orange — the operator was first to launch a Windows Mobile-based Smartphone, the SPV (Sound Pictures Video), in October 2002.
Orange customers can use the handset to surf the Internet in full color, watch and listen to music and video clips, download games, and synchronize their PC with their phone, allowing them to keep up to date with their Microsoft Outlook®
contacts, calendar and e-mail — all in a sleek clamshell design. They can also send photo messages with a small attachable camera (available separately). The Motorola MPx200 delivers all the tools to conduct wirefree (TM) business and after-work fun.
As an Orange Signature handset, the Motorola MPx200 also features exclusive services for Orange customers such as an innovative function called Orange Backup. Orange Backup allows customers to store their personal data — such as contacts and calendar — on the Orange network and restore those details when required. That means that if a customer loses their phone, the information remains secure on the Orange network and can be restored on a new phone. There is also the Orange Update feature, which lets customers update their phone with the latest software as well as download and store new applications — such as games and tube maps — over the air.
The Motorola MPx200 is aimed specifically at the professional consumer market — customers who want to stay in touch and synchronized when working or socializing, while benefiting from entertaining features such as Windows Media®
Player for video playback and MP3 capabilities as well as 3-D games. These applications and more are all available within the sleek, black clamshell design of the Motorola MPx200.
Richard Brennan, Executive Vice-President of Global Brand, Products and Marketing for the Orange Group , said: “At Orange, we pride ourselves by offering our customers the most innovative products and advanced, easy-to-use mobile services.
“The launch of the MPx200 builds on our previous work with Microsoft as well as the alliance with Motorola that we announced in June. Our previous work on products using the Windows Mobile software has given us a head start in the development of future advanced phones of this kind. By forging a mutually beneficial relationship with both Motorola and Microsoft, Orange and its customers are reaping the benefits of superior performance and sleek design.”
He added: “Orange is developing a range of Signature devices, which are easier to use and are packed with applications that demonstrate real customer benefit such as Orange Backup, which saves customers data on the Orange intelligent network.”
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.”
Pieter Knook, Corporate Vice President of Mobile and Embedded Devices at Microsoft Corp. , said: “This announcement will deliver truly smart mobile devices with great applications and services on great handsets that will be attractive and appealing to our customers. 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 initially be available to Orange UK customers in October. Other countries within the Orange Group may also offer the device. The phone will retail at 239.99 including VAT ($382.93 U.S.), subject to an Orange monthly contract.
About Orange
(LSE:OGE) Orange and wirefree are trademarks of Orange PCS. The Orange group is one of the world’s largest mobile communications companies, with operations in 19 countries across Europe and beyond. It provides a broad range of personal communications services, including Orange GSM1800 services and other digital cellular telephone services. The Orange brand operates in the UK, France, Switzerland, Romania, Denmark, Slovakia, Thailand, the Ivory Coast, the Dominican Republic, Cameroon, the Netherlands, Botswana, Luxembourg and Madagascar. The Orange group also has controlled operations in Belgium (Mobistar). The Orange group has a joint controlling interest in Egypt (MobiNil) and minority interests in Portugal (Optimus), Austria (Connect Austria), and Mumbai/India (BPL Mobile). As at September 1st 2003, Orange was the largest mobile operator in both the UK with over 13 million active customers, and France with over 19 million registered customers. As at September 1st 2003, Orange controlled companies had over 45 million customers worldwide. Further information about Orange can be found on the Orange website at http://www.orange.com/.
About Motorola
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) is a global leader in wireless, automotive and broadband communications. Sales in 2002 were $27.3 billion. Motorola is a global corporate citizen dedicated to ethical business practices and pioneering important innovations that make things smarter and life better, honored traditions that began when the company was founded 75 years ago this year. For more information, please visit http://www.motorola.com .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, Windows Mobile, Outlook and Windows Media, are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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