ORANGE LAUNCHES FIRST PAN-EUROPEAN MOBILE PC DATA SOLUTION WITH CONTINUAL ‘FASTEST POSSIBLE’ WIRELESS ACCESS
Orange extends Business Everywhere solution with Option’s GlobeTrotter 3G/EDGE™ card – the world’s first multi-bearer mobile 3G and EDGE wireless data solution for the business user
London – September 27, 2005 – Orange SA today extends its Business Everywhere solution with a new mobile PC data offer that enables laptop users to access the network whenever and wherever they are . Business Everywhere is a fully integrated range of worldwide mobility solutions, offered by the France Telecom Group, providing transparent access through wireless, fixed and mobile bearers. Following a strategic agreement with Option (Euronext: OPTI, OTC: OPNVY), the wireless technology company, Orange is the first operator in Europe to announce the ‘all-wireless technology’ data solution as part of its Business Everywhere portfolio.
The new device will deliver a simple and intuitive software experience through a customised Business Everywhere dashboard and the fastest wireless access to allow users to access email and browse the internet using the best available network across Europe. Business Everywhere offers users a complete business mobile experience including software & hardware, access to the network that suits their communications needs and is supported by a highly competitive flat rate tariff.
Regardless of location, continual high speed access through the new ‘all wireless technology’ enables business users to reliably send and receive emails with or without large data files, whether via the internet or by quick and easy access to a corporate IT networks. Orange business customers also benefit from competitive and predictable flat-rate usage tariffs.
Business Everywhere is optimised to support business travellers with its ‘all wireless technology’ capabilities and can be used while roaming across Orange’s pan-European footprint. Trials have already commenced and the service will be available in France and Poland from early November. The new ‘all wireless technology’ product will be launched in the remaining Orange territories throughout 2006 as part of a phased pan-European roll-out. Orange business customers will benefit from the ‘fastest possible’ performance in their home country and on any mobile or WiFi network that has a roaming agreement with Orange.
The Business Everywhere solution automatically senses the fastest network access available, starting with WiFi, 3G through to EDGE and GPRS. Or alternatively the user can specify the order of preference that best suits them, giving customers the ultimate flexibility and control.
“We are pleased to deliver such a high-quality, business-enabling tool that allows our customers to take advantage of our superior EDGE and 3G networks on a cost-friendly flat-rate tariff,” says Philippe Bernard, Executive Vice President, Orange Business Solutions. The complexity behind this new ‘all wireless technology’ data solution is completely hidden from the user. All they need to know, or care about, is that they have flexible, cost-effective and real-time access to business information while on the move. We are pleased to be working with Options to deliver such a high-quality solution to our customers.
Jan Callewaert, CEO at Option: “We are very pleased to be working in partnership with Orange in terms of supporting its Business Everywhere solution. Orange demonstrates that it definitely understands mobile user needs for simplicity, speed, and seamlessly switching between various technologies. Option is privileged to be working with Orange in terms of making its 3G/EDGE data card commercially available.”
Philippe Bernard adds ‘Orange is leading the market with our mobile broadband vision. Execution of market leading propositions such as our new ‘all wireless technology’ Business Everywhere solution will ignite new customer demand. Our combined 3G and Edge networks give mobile broadband access to the widest population – covering 85% in France and 78% in Poland – and we are rapidly growing coverage across Belgium, Romania and Slovakia. Orange is the first operator to provide such extensive high speed mobile data network coverage.’
The Business Everywhere solution offers shorter transmission processes leading to increased productivity and efficiency of users who no longer have to spend time travelling to and from the office simply to access the internet, their email, corporate applications and critical data.
As well as supporting Business Everywhere, this 3G/EDGE™ datacard is also the latest addition to the recently launched Orange Signature devices for business range. All Orange business devices across the Signature range are tested rigorously for quality, longevity, cost and ease of deployment in the business environment. The Business Everywhere ‘all mobile technology’ is designed for use with Windows® based laptop PC’s and features a customised dashboard providing an easy-to-use and intuitive experience.
ABOUT ORANGE
Orange and wirefree and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange PCS. Orange is one of the world’s largest mobile communications companies and a subsidiary of the France Telecom group, with operations in 17 countries across Europe and beyond. It provides a broad range of personal communications services, including Orange GSM1800 services and other digital cellular telephone services. Within the Orange Group, the Orange brand operates in the UK, France, Poland, Switzerland, Romania, Slovakia, Thailand, the Ivory Coast, the Dominican Republic, Cameroon, the Netherlands, Botswana, 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) and in Austria (One). As at the end of June 2005, Orange had 14.46 million active customers in the UK, and over 21.4 million registered customers in France. As at the end of June 2005, Orange controlled companies had over 56.1 million customers worldwide. Orange, along with TIM, Telefonica and T-Mobile, is a founding member of the FreeMove alliance. Further information about Orange can be found on the Orange website at www.orange.com.
ABOUT OPTION
Option NV (www.option.com), the wireless technology company, is a leading innovator in the design, development and manufacture of 3G WCDMA (HSDPA and UMTS), EDGE, GPRS, GSM and WLAN technology products for wireless connectivity solutions. Option has built up an enviable reputation for creating exciting products that enhance the performance and functionality of wireless communications. Option’s headquarters are in Leuven, Belgium. The company has Research & Development in Leuven, a Software and Applications development centre in Adelsried (Germany) and an ISO 9002 production engineering and logistics facility in Cork, Ireland.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
For Orange
Georgina Hart at Edelman on +44 (0) 20 7 344 1315 / georgina.hart@edelman.com
Steve Loynes at Edelman on +44 (0) 20 7 344 1219 / steve.loynes@edelman.com
Kristina Fitzsimmons at Orange on +44 (0)7971 231372 / kristina.fitzsimmons@orange.co.uk
For Option
Douglas Ros, Vice President Business Development & Marketing, Tel +32 (0)16 317 411, E-mail: d.ros@option.com
Frederic Convent, CFO, Tel + 32 (0) 16 317 411, E-mail: investor@option.com