Orange unveils first Microsoft smartphone

By Matthew Broersma, ZDNet.co.uk, 23 October, 2002 11:37

NEWS

Orange on Tuesday unveiled the details of its upcoming smartphone, the SPV, which will be the first Microsoft-powered handset on the market when it arrives early next month. The handset aims to combine consumer-friendly features such as an attachable camera and multimedia messaging (MMS) with Windows software integration along the lines of Microsoft's Pocket PC handheld computers. See images of the SPV here. The SPV made its debut at the same time as Sendo's long-anticipated Z100, also based on Windows Powered Smartphone software. The Z100 (see ZDNet UK's preview here) has many of the same features, as well as add-ons such as Java support, and will carry a somewhat higher price tag when it hits the market late this year or early next year. (See related story: Microsoft launches smartphone assault.) Orange's handset is aimed at a mainstream market, and as such carries a somewhat lower price tag than the Z100, at £179 (subject to a 12-month contract) compared to the Z100's £199 (approx.). Unlike the Z100, the SPV's price includes several add-ons, including snap-on camera, USB cradle for connecting to a PC and an SD memory card. The handset will launch in France, Denmark and Switzerland in the weeks after its UK launch, and said it would roll out in its international markets such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Romania and Thailand in early 2003. The Microsoft software provides such services as photo messaging (MMS), email, calendar, contacts, instant messaging, text messaging, Web browsing and audio and video playback. Like a Pocket PC handheld computer, the phone can synchronise with desktop applications via a USB cradle. Calendar and contacts data can be synchronised over a GPRS wireless connection using Microsoft Mobile Information Server -- functioning much the same as the BlackBerry device from Research in Motion, offered in the UK by mmO2. Orange will also offer an over-the-air backup service for contacts and calendar data. The handset features a 2.2-inch TFT LCD screen displaying 176x220 pixels and 64,000 colours. It has a Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card expansion slot, allowing for storage cards of up to 256MB to be added. The battery provides three hours of talk-time or 100 hours in standby mode, Orange said. The hardware, designed by Taiwan's High Tech Corp. (HTC), is based on Texas Instruments' OMAP platform, and uses a 120MHz ARM-based processor. It includes 32MB of flash read-only memory (ROM) and 16MB of SDRAM, more than 6MB of which is available for user storage. It has an infrared port, but no built-in Bluetooth, although an add-in Bluetooth SD card may later become available. Orange said that other accessories such as a car kit and attachable keyboard would be on offer soon. Microsoft also makes Pocket PC Phone Edition software, which is designed for combo devices that lean more towards the handheld computer side. The best-known example of Phone Edition is currently the xda, also manufactured by HTC and offered in the UK by mmO2. These devices include a stylus and tend not to have a built-in keypad. On the other hand, both the Z100 and the SPV are aimed at PC-savvy consumers. By contrast, Nokia's first mass-market smartphone, the 7650, doesn't include a PC synchronisation cable, and its marketing focuses more on consumer applications such as MMS and taking pictures with its built-in camera than on handling data. Nokia's handset, with a service contract, costs around the same as the Windows smartphones. Orange argues it has hit the right balance between consumer and data features, and sees the device as key to revenue growth. "With the SPV, we now are able to deliver a suite of advanced services well before the advent of third generation networks," said Richard Brennan, executive vice-president for OrangeWorld and Brand, in a statement. "The SPV will help drive Orange toward its predicted data revenue target of 25 percent of total revenues by 2005." Time will tell how receptive buyers are to a mobile phone handset made by a manufacturer such as HTC, which doesn't brand its products. Handset makers such as Nokia and Sony Ericsson have argued that mobile phone handsets are not a commodity, like PCs, and require manufacturers with hardware, software and branding expertise. Nokia's 7650 took the Symbian OS on which it is based to the top of the European handheld device market for the third quarter, above Windows CE and Palm OS, according to Canalys.

If it moves, we cover it. See ZDNet UK's Mobile Technology News Section for the latest news, reviews and price checks on mobile phones, PDAs, notebook computers and anything else you can take away. Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the ZDNet news forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

ZDNet UK Live

2. Bad idea. Making up patch cables loses you your commission from the cable supplier. 3. If you tidy up, other people can understand where the...

28 minutes ago by itsajob on Ten IT jobs to save up for those rare lulls

Now On Sale, Unlocked iPhone 4S / Galaxy Note In Factory Box. Roberto-Techie(UK) ”Now on Sales” Smartphone, Android,Tablets,Gadget &...

4 hours ago by Roberto_Store on Samsung Galaxy S III lined up for sale

Is this classic FUD? One thing I would definitely have notice is a Mozilla threat to stop supporting GNU/Linux.

6 hours ago by Paul Smyth via Facebook on Firefox rapid release improves Fedora Linux

I agree with the previous commenter wholeheartedly. I couldn't say it better myself. This is very 'Big Brother'. And while I agree with protecting...

10 hours ago by UnderINK on European e-identity plan to be unveiled this month

Nice to see that Turing's idea of a general purpose computer doing once-hardware-powered tasks in software is now universal ;-) Mary

16 hours ago by Simon Bisson and Mary Branscombe on Software with everything

seriously now. I've only bothered to read a small bit of the comments. do me and the rest of the world a favour. stop saying it does not work or...

19 hours ago by Jason Burchell via Facebook on Music industry negotiating over 24-bit downloads

Read about it and weep, John Donahoe ... In addition to Visa’s V.me, there is now MasterCard’s PayPass digital wallet soon to arrive; another...

24 hours ago by Philip Charles Cohen via Facebook on PayPal takes phone-based payments to the high street

Leslie Satenstein : Where have you ever seen Mozilla even mention this? Firefox is the most popular browser in the GNU/Linux OS, so I don't see...

1 day ago by apexwm on Firefox rapid release improves Fedora Linux

SHleG: Do you remember building a clockwork scorpion kit (I'm pretty sure I have a photo of it somewhere) — I think it was called something like...

1 day ago by songmaster on Software with everything

Good I love Yahoo! Their search engine is getting better than Google as of late. I find more of what I want on the first page, and usually within...

1 day ago by Chris Wortman via Facebook on Linux Mint 13 ramps up for KDE release

openhgs has made the point for Windows 8 multiple monitors without realising it! With Windows 7 you have to switch the mouse and so your focus...

1 day ago by PatrickG on Windows 8 could speed multi-monitor uptake

Mozilla has threatened to stop supporting Linux. I guess that UBUNTU is going with another browser. I indicated that if Mozilla stops supporting...

1 day ago by Leslie Satenstein via Facebook on Firefox rapid release improves Fedora Linux

Much as I abhor Microsoft's licensing practices, this is almost certainly down to purchasing IT equipment via 3rd party consultants - you get the...

1 day ago by Andy Bolstridge via Facebook on 6 million wasted licences and £1,200 PCs: welcome to government IT

@openhgs Windows users have had multiple desktops since Linus started writing Linux. They just haven't shipped as standard because not enough...

2 days ago by Jack Schofield on Windows 8 could speed multi-monitor uptake

@Phil at Cloud4 What, Microsoft gets £1,200 per PC and £1,622 per server? Gosh, I'm amazed....

2 days ago by Jack Schofield on 6 million wasted licences and £1,200 PCs: welcome to government IT

You guys have no idea what is going on at Autonomy. Autonomy could have been a much more profitable organization. The sales operations at Autonomy...

2 days ago by craigsc on HP cuts 27,000 staff as Autonomy chief Lynch leaves

How does this impact on dual or multi booting? Seems to me to more or less prohibit this, from Windows 8 anyway. Will Grub 2 recognise Windows 8,...

2 days ago by Moley on Windows 8 start-up speed forces USB boot workaround

I don't understand why there cannot be a slight pause during the boot process so the user can press a key. Many operating systems do this, even if...

2 days ago by apexwm on Windows 8 start-up speed forces USB boot workaround

You can now buy the Xi3 modular computer in the UK at http://www.ocdistribution.com . This can be bought with the Tand3m software, pricing and...

2 days ago by Gavin Goodman on CES 2012: Xi3 microSERV3R

I agree: Mike Lynch can clearly build a business and manage strategy. I suspect the exit of Mike is more likely the end of a planned handover...

2 days ago by Phil at Cloud4 on HP cuts 27,000 staff as Autonomy chief Lynch leaves

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Orange unveils first Microsoft smartphone

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Microsoft launches smartphone assault

Orange first with Microsoft handset

Orange to squeeze out GPRS in March

O2 reveals updated EU data-roaming bundle

MasterCard aims to stuff rival cards into its digital wallet

Post your comment

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Mobile Working

O2 reveals updated EU data-roaming bundle

MasterCard aims to stuff rival cards into its digital wallet

BYOD is no money-saver, says council's IT chief

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Senior Business Analyst

Technical Project Manager

Software Support Engineer

Inside ZDNet UK

Indoor navigation coming to a mobile near you soon

Software with everything

Asus Transformer Pad TF300T

How IT is ganging up on organised cybercrime

HTC One V: First take

SharePoint deployment: The final chapter

Ten IT jobs to save up for those rare lulls

News & Analysis

Reviews

Blogs

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features

ZDNet UK / News and Analysis / Mobile IT / Mobile Working

Orange unveils first Microsoft smartphone

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Post your comment

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Mobile Working

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Inside ZDNet UK

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features