Orange has announced two new "connected laptops", the Asus 1005HGO and the Compaq CQ61 and two new mobile broadband dongles.

The 10.1-inch Asus 1005HGO with embedded SIM card is an Orange exclusive. Offering Windows 7 starter and weighing 1.27kg, it's angled as the on-the-go option.

The 15.6-inch Compaq CQ61 is bundled with an Orange e1752 dongle and comes with Windows 7 Home Premium.

The Asus netbook will cost from ?25 to ?35 a month on 18-month and 24-month mobile broadband contracts with 1GB, 3GB and 5GB options available.

The Compaq laptop is offered on the same contracts but also requires an upfront pay-out of between ?65 and ?130 depending on which contract is taken, although it is free on a 5GB, ?35 per month, 24-month contract.

As far as dongles go, the new Orange e1752 dongle will be bundled with mobile broadband packages while the Option 515M, which will come with a free 8GB Micro SD memory card, will be charged at around ?20.

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Tags: Hardware Phones Orange Laptops Mobile broadband USB modems Tariffs Asus Compaq Netbooks Software Asus 1005HGO Compaq CQ61

Orange offers two new "connected laptops" originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:34:14 +0000

If you're in the market for a PAYG phone then you could do a lot worse than heading over to Orange, who are offering some free gifts along with your phone purchase.

The free gifts include the main event - a pair of Skull Candy headphones - along with 5 minutes worth of free international calls - perhaps good for that quick call to an overseas aunt and 30 free photo messages. You'll also get some free downloads for games, ringtones, etc... and some bits that you probably won't want, such as a yo-yo and card wallet.

The offer includes handsets ranging from ?30 and up so examples of phones available come in the form of the Alcatel OT-708, the middle of the range LG Cookie, through to the Nokia 5800, which will set you back ?205.

This link will take you through to the Orange website where you can take a look at all the phones on offer. After you've picked your phone you'll have to choose the animal-related PAYG plan that you want and how you want it delivered, which thankfully includes a free option.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Orange Skull candy Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: Free Skull Candy headphones with Orange PAYG mobiles originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

A UK mobile phone operator has seen a data leak of millions of records from thousands of customers, the information commissioner has revealed.

Staff at one of the UK's major mobile phone companies sold on the customer information to other phone firms, Christopher Graham told the BBC, making a mockery of the data protection act.

Customers have reported being cold-called as their contracts came to an end, ultimately resulting in the phone company alerting the watchdog to the problem.

The information commissioner has searched company premises, interviewed employees and is planning to prosecute those involved, but the operator has not been officially named.

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Read

Tags: Phones Mobile phone industry Biz Information Commissioner O2 Orange Vodafone T-Mobile 3

UK mobile phone operator sees major data theft originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:36:03 +0000

Orange has announced a new service for Twitter users that'll allow them to send images to the microblogging service by attaching them to MMS messages. It's called "Snapshot" and is apparently the first service in the world to offer that functionality.

Oh, and Orange UK has turned on Twitter too. That means that Orange users can send either texts or picture messages to 86444 and have them appear on Twitter, as well as on the Snapshot website, where you can snoop on the messages that people have been sending.

There's no charge beyond a regular SMS or MMS fee, and the shortcode is the same as the one used by O2 and Vodafone to avoid confusion. Orange is the third UK operator to enable Twitter messages, leaving T-Mobile and 3 in the not-enabled-yet camp.

Read

Tags: Mobile phones Twitter Orange MMS Websites

Orange debuts MMS Twitter updates originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:42:59 +0000

Since the iPhone, where to get it and what tariff to choose seems to be the hot topic of the moment, we thought we'd guide any would-be contract signers to a deal that Quidco is running.

The cashback website Quidco has teamed up with Mobiles.co.uk to offer a discounted rate on all iPhone handsets, meaning that all Quidco members will get a ?60 cashback when arranging an 18- or 24-month contract with either Orange or O2.

In order to give you a run down of the exact tariffs from each operator, Pocket-lint has collated all the info in our feature - Best iPhone tariffs: O2 vs Orange. You'll then be in a good position to pop over and join Quidco before heading over to Mobiles.co.uk.

Tags: Phones iPhone Tariffs Orange O2 Quidco Mobilescouk Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: £60 cashback on iPhone contracts with O2 or Orange originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

It seems Orange's first day of iPhone sales in the UK has gone well with the company revealing, via a tweet, it's seen sales hitting the 30,000 mark.

"Orange UK had sold more than 30k iPhones, smashing what we believe is the previously published first day sales records for a phone in the UK!", Orange marketing manager Conor Maples stated via Twitter.

When O2 originally launched the iPhone back in November 2007 it said it saw "tens of thousands" of people snap up the device over the initial sales weekend.

Orange's new film-themed iPhone app is seeing similar success, according to another Conor tweet:

"Our Orange Wednesdays app has gone to the top slot in the Entertainment Category, & hit 2nd place in the free apps chart on Apple App Store".

Read

Tags: Phones iPhone Orange Apple Statistics Biz

Orange reveals 30,000 iPhones sold on first day originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:09:53 +0000

It seems Vodafone is not the only operator to get its claws out in a timely manner as Orange becomes the second operator to offer the iPhone in the UK, as 3 has revealed - on the day of the Orange iPhone launch - it has put in a formal complaint to the ASA about Orange's new advertising campaign.

While Orange and O2's price plans for the iPhone are very similar, it seems Orange is hoping to appeal to consumers on the strength of its 3G network with a new ?4 million "You're Covered" advertising campaign.

However, 3 is taking issue with Orange's claim that its 3G network "currently covers over 93% of the UK population - more than any other network", and has asked Ofcom to put measures in place for a more consistent way to of calculating coverage.

"We're confident that we have the biggest 3G network in the UK, both in terms of geographic and population coverage, built on a 9192 site network that grows by around 150 sites each week", says 3.

"But it's no surprise consumers are being confused about coverage. Right now each operator chooses a population coverage measurement that suits it. We currently claim 92% coverage. We could use a measure used elsewhere in the industry that would boost our claimed population coverage to 95% in an instant, without reaching a single extra customer".

"We're happy to open up our network to a third-party to judge. We"d like to see a common standard applied across the industry, to give consumers a more realistic picture of 3G coverage available to UK consumers on all networks".

Tags: Phones Mobile phones 3 Orange iPhone Mobile phone industry Advertising Ofcom ASA 3G

3 calls foul over Orange 3G coverage claims on iPhone launch day originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:20:35 +0000

As Orange starts to offer the iPhone in the UK, Vodafone has sent out an email to all those who pre-registered interest in the device about its launch of the Apple mobile.

The promotional mailer claims that Vodafone is the fastest network for iPhone to download video on, with the following boast:

"We've been out and about testing our network across the UK. Whilst our guys were watching the latest YouTube clips on the iPhone they found that Vodafone delivered the fastest download time for a 10 minute video".

No stats are provided to back the claim up.

Meanwhile, under the heading "get ready for your big day", Vodafone is offering five "top tips" for "getting ready" for the iPhone launch on Vodafone, which includes the likes of setting up an iTunes account.

Vodafone is due to offer the iPhone in early 2010 - we'll keep you posted with more news.

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Related links:

• News - 3 calls foul over Orange 3G coverage claims on iPhone launch day

Tags: Phones iPhone Vodafone Orange Apple

Vodafone boasts fastest iPhone downloads on Orange's launch day originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:58:08 +0000

2 years and a day after the first iPhone went on sale in the UK through O2, another operator is now officially offering Apple's mobile to UK consumers.

From today, the iPhone can now be bought on a pay as you go basis, or subsidised on a monthly contract through Orange.

Rather than undercutting its competition, the tariffs Orange is offering are similar to O2's, although Orange's 750MB "unlimited" data has raised eyebrows.

So will Orange's boasts of the best 3G coverage across the UK be enough to persuade people to go Orange?

The Carphone Warehouse says it expects to sell one million iPhone handsets in total by Christmas with the arrival of the iPhone 3G and 3GS on Orange and has created the "Orange Apples" display, pictured here, to mark the launch.

Will Orange unveil sales stats? (update - yes) Will O2 fight back with more than just a broadband deal? We will keep you posted...

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Related links:

• VIDEO - Orange Wednesdays iPhone app announced
• News - 3 calls foul over Orange 3G coverage claims on iPhone launch day
• News - Vodafone boasts fastest iPhone downloads on Orange's launch day

Tags: Phones iPhone Apple Orange Tariffs

Orange iPhone available in the UK now originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:33:47 +0000

Lawyer: Mrs. Simpson, what did you and your husband do after you were ejected from the restaurant?

Marge Simpson: We pretty much went straight home…

Lawyer: Mrs. Simpson, you are under oath!

Marge Simpson: We drove around until 3AM looking for another all-you-can-eat fish restaurant.

Lawyer: And when you couldn’t find one?

Marge Simpson: We went fishing…

Lawyer: Do these sound like the actions of a man who had all he could eat?

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What am I talking about, and why have a started with a quote from a Simpsons episode? Well, because it's the same problem that is affecting the mobile phone industry at the moment, with neither Ofcom or the Advertising Standards Agency apparently bothered that consumers are being lied to on a daily basis every time they sign up to a mobile phone contract.

The frustration, and one that was experienced by Homer Simpson in the episode, comes down to the definition of Unlimited.

In my books and strangely enough in the dictionary Unlimited means:

Main Entry: un?lim?it?ed

Pronunciation: -li-m-td

Function: adjective

Date: 15th century

1 : lacking any controls : unrestricted 2 : boundless, infinite 3 : not bounded by exceptions : undefined

— un?lim?it?ed?ly adverb

However, talk to any mobile operator and the word "unlimited" seems to come with an astrix that highlights caveats or that the term is based on our "fair usage policy".

According to Orange, that "Unlimited" bundle means 750MB of data, far from what the dictionary describes above.

But why isn't the ASA or Ofcom clamping down on these unfair and misleading claims?

When we contacted Ofcom we got the following response:

"As far as I know, this is not something that Ofcom has published anything on".

Not published anything? Really? However they are happy to spend thousands investigating why people buy pirated DVDs on the Internet - surely they just go to torrent sites?

Meanwhile the ASA doesn't believe that mobile operators lying or being quiet about the terms and conditions of a data plan that could, potentially, cost you thousands of pounds over the course of a contract is that much of an issue.

"The ASA does not have guidance on the use of the term 'unlimited' as the ASA position is derived from the Advertising Codes and previous case history (our ASA case law)", an ASA spokesperson told Pocket-lint when we asked them what was what.

"In a nutshell, the term 'unlimited' can be used to describe a service that, if containing a fair-usage policy, will only affect the a-typical user. (i.e. the majority of users will not be affected.)"

So what's the solution?

I believe that mobile phone operators shouldn't be allowed to use the unlimited moniker unless it really is that. As mobile phones increasingly become the gateway to our digital lives on the go we are likely to be consuming more images, more video, more music and therefore more data.

I don't want to sign up to a contract where there is normally a termination fee if I haven't been made aware of all the facts before signing up.?

At the moment words like "Unlimited" are nothing more than lies, even if "a typical user" won't supposedly be affected.?

Although the ASA might consider "unlimited" an acceptable term for tariffs with data caps or fair usage policies, here at Pocket-lint, we don't. And as such, we are making a stand. We will no longer continue to use the word "unlimited" when the tariff it refers to clearly is no such thing.

We will also be sure to make such caps or usage limits apparent every time we cover news that refers to an "unlimited" deal.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Tariffs Orange Vodafone T-Mobile O2 3

Limited "unlimited" claims should be banned originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:37:26 +0000

The deal that will see Orange and T-Mobile merged in the UK to form the biggest mobile phone operator has been finalised.

Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom have now signed the final agreement to combine their respective UK operations into a 50:50 joint venture company.

The companies say that completion is conditional on relevant authorities approval and is expected in the first half of 2010.

Timotheus Hottges, the CFO of Deutsche Telekom says the joint venture "will set new standards as the number one in the UK mobile market".

Tags: Phones Mobile phone industry Orange T-Mobile Mergers Acquisitions Deutsche Telekom France Telecom

T-Mobile and Orange 50:50 joint venture finalised originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:28:24 +0000

We've been doing a little bit of digging to find out who, in the UK, will be offering Motorola's forthcoming Droid handset. The Android 2.0-sporting QWERTY slider scored a whopping 9/10 in its Pocket-lint review, but given that it's supposed to be due on Friday in the States, we're not seeing any sign of the handset in Britain.

We gave all the UK operators a call to find out exactly whether any of them were planning on stocking the device. O2 told us that it wasn't going to be selling the handset, despite its German wing selling it as the "Milestone". 3 said the same thing - there are no current plans to offer the handset at this time.

T3 spoke to Nicola Shenton, head of handset and device marketing at T-Mobile UK, who told the magazine that the company had tested the phone, but passed it up. We also talked to Orange and Vodafone. Orange told us that it had nothing to announce other than the fact it's selling the Motorola DEXT, and Vodafone promised to call us back and haven't.

From that, we can rule out three of the major five operators. Orange is looking likely, especially given the non-denial when other networks were happy to confirm "no". ?We'll update you as and when we hear more from Orange or Vodafone.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Motorola Motorola Droid Android Verizon O2 Orange 3 Vodafone T-Mobile

Who'll be selling the Motorola Droid in the UK? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:17:37 +0000

The furore over the Orange terms and conditions for the iPhone may be dying down now that the mobile operator has said it'll happily turn a blind eye to customers using streaming services like Spotify and YouTube, but there still remains the issue over this 750MB per month data limit. This is what Orange has described as "unlimited" mobile internet access and we've got no particular issue with the company stretching the definitions of the word, any more than we have with all the others that do it. The real question is though, just what will 750MB get you?

Fortunately, Orange has a mobile broadband data calculator on its own site, so we had a play to find out how far our notional budget will stretch. As it turns out, not very far.

Attempt 1 - The Power User

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Emails

20/day

Attachments

5/day

IM

1 hour/day

Browsing

2 hours/day

Music

1 song/day

Video streaming

30 minutes/day

Total

5.01GB

Verdict

Bust

First of all, we tried a few stats of the kind we would expect most gadget fiends and Pocket-lint regulars would stick to. A couple of hours of browsing a day while on the way to work or using up a little dead time, plus just one song download and lets say a half hour episode of your favourite TV show and, unfortunately, we're already well off the scale. Time to calm it down a bit.

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Attempt 2 - The Heavy User

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Emails

20/day

Attachments

5/day

IM

30 minutes/day

Browsing

1 hour/day

Music

1 song/day

Video streaming

10 minutes/day

Total

2GB

Verdict

Bust

This time just a few emails with attachments, only 30 minutes on IM, half the browsing we were doing before, the same one song a day and just a couple of 5 minute YouTube clips every 24 hours and we're already three times over the limit. Back to the drawing board.

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Attempt 3 - Medium Use

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Emails

15/day

Attachments

3/day

IM

15 minutes/day

Browsing

30 minutes/day

Music

1 song/week

Video streaming

4 minutes/day

Total

817MB

Verdict

Bust

This time we only just went over. Let's cut the IM down to a minimum. We can use phone calls, email and text for that kind of thing. Again, just half an hour of browsing now, just the one YouTube clip and only one download per week seems to be about what Orange is telling us we should be using. It's not a lot and maybe that video streaming could be substituted for a little more music streaming but you're still living on the data edge somewhat.

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Attempt 4 - Light User

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Emails

10/day

Attachments

1/day

IM

5 minutes/day

Browsing

10 minutes/day

Music

1 song/week

Video streaming

4 minutes/day

Total

632MB

Verdict

Inside

To take it down to its bare essentials with only 10 minutes of browsing per day and we find ourselves comfortably inside, but that doesn't exactly look like the kind of freedom we'd expected on an unlimited package no matter how "unlimited" it is.

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Attempt 5 - The Streamer

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Emails

0

Attachments

0

IM

0

Browsing

0

Music

0

Video streaming

5 minutes/day

Total

686MB

Verdict

Inside

Finally, let's say, instead, that we forgo all other pleasures apart from streaming video. Emails are for wimps, IM for losers, browsing should be done on a computer and downloading is so 2002. With that in mind we can bathe in the luxury of 5 whole minutes of video streaming each day without going over the 750MB per month barrier, and that's it.

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Attempt 6 - The no media option

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Emails

50/day

Attachments

10/day

IM

1 hour/day

Browsing

1 hour/day

Music

0

Video streaming

0

Total

745MB

Verdict

Inside

Of course, if you really want to, you can save all your credits and ditch streaming and downloads altogether which is essentially what the original terms and conditions might have you do, and for good reason it seems. Suddenly, you get up to an hour's IM and browsing per day with as many emails and attachments as you can shake a stick at. Now that is what you might call unlimited.

So, there's a few fairly obvious conclusions we can take from this:

1) 750MB per month doesn't really get you that far
2) Video streaming will get you into trouble on this package
3) Although O2 simply presents users with the company's rather nebulous fair usage policy, it could well work out at more. Fortunately, both operators apply a warning system if you go over the limits rather than charging you the excess but it's probably not worth being a persistent offender.

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Related links:

• Feature - 12 Apps worth jailbreaking your iPhone for
• Feature - Best iPhone tariffs: O2 vs Orange

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Orange iPhone O2 Features

How much does the Orange unlimited iPhone package give you? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:48:31 +0000

It's always nice to report on a company striving for eco credibility, that green label being all so important for companies who at least need to be seen to be doing something, even if the impact of their actions is limited.

In this case Orange are starting their Recycle & Reward scheme, which enables people to recycle their old mobiles, laptops and personal music players in UK Orange stores in exchange for cash. The company reckons that "two thirds of Brits have old mobiles gathering dust in their homes which equates to approximately 90 million unused handsets worth approximately ?450 million".

The company also states that the scheme is: "Underlining Orange's commitment to becoming a more sustainable, greener business, Recycle & Reward will help reduce the amount of electronic goods sent to landfill and, instead, help consumers obtain a competitive price for them".

In store you'll be able to find out how much your old unit is worth and after you've left the unit with them Orange says you should receive a cheque within 7 days. Examples of of the amount of money you can expect to receive for particular items include, up to ?85 for Nokia N95, ?75 for a Sony Ericsson C905 and ?95 for a Samsung SCH 900. Orange will also recycle electronic devices and accessories with no monetary value.

Orange is also offering a "Copy and Keep" service to enable customers to transfer essential contacts, music, and photos in all Orange retail stores, an attempt to remove the hassle of transferring the data yourself. The service is free to all Orange care customers and if you're not part of their gang then it'll set you back ?6.

Paul French, head of care products said: "At Orange, we’ve made some significant strides recently in reducing the environmental impact of our business. For instance, 80% of our electricity now comes from renewable sources while in July we introduced the mini-SIM to
reduce the amount of waste associated with new SIM cards Recycle & Reward is just another small step, for us as a business and for the public, in our journey towards greener, more sustainable practices".

There doesn't appear to be any mention in the release of where and how the products are to be recycled, or whether they will be sold on to - for want of a better term - emerging markets.

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Tags: Phones Eco Orange Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: Orange launches Recycle & Reward originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Orange's terms and conditions for its mobile internet ban applications like Spotify, AudioBoo, Ustream, Facebook and YouTube, something which could be of concern to those considering buying an iPhone with the mobile network.

In the company's T&Cs, it says:?"Not to be used for other activities (eg using your handset as a modem, non-Orange internet based streaming services, voice or video over the internet, instant messaging, peer to peer file sharing, non-Orange internet based video). Should such use be detected notice may be given and Network protection controls applied to all services which Orange does not believe constitutes mobile browsing".

That covers a whole host of different applications that are wildly popular on Apple's handheld computing platform. The company also limits its "Unlimited" plan to just 750MB per month, as Dan pointed out in his comparison feature the other day, which might be worth considering if you're planning to use these apps heavily.

The issue was spotted and pointed out to the BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones, who says: "if too many power users start streaming TV and playing online games on their phones, the Orange network may buckle under the strain".

Orange has, however, commented to the BBC - saying: "We do recognise that iPhone customers will use popular streaming services such as YouTube, Spotify etc. As a result we do not intend to apply network protection controls to anyone, as long as they are within their usage allowance. The T&Cs are in place to reserve the right to restrict access should they continue to exceed our Fair Usage policy, and our other Mobile data users suffer a reduced data experience as a result".

If you don't mean it, Orange, why put it in your T&Cs?

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Read

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Orange iPhone O2 Spotify Facebook YouTube

Orange T&Cs ban Spotify, Facebook and YouTube originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:52:50 +0000

Orange has announced that its first UK exclusive app, Orange Wednesdays, is now available on the App Store.

The new app from the operator - which is due to offer the iPhone from 10 November in the UK? -? brings the Orange Wednesdays cinema experience to the iPhone and iPod touch.

The app offers film reviews and trailers with info on what's on, where films are showing, information on how to get there and the ability to redeem the 2 for 1 Orange Wednesdays cinema voucher on the Orange iPhone.

Hit play on the video above for a brief overview, while the app is available as a free download over at the App Store now.

Tags: Phones iPhone apps Orange Home Cinema Video iPhone

VIDEO: Orange Wednesdays iPhone app announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:53:35 +0000

If you're expecting to see a major difference in the cost of an iPhone between these two UK networks, then think again. It's not an accident that the price is similar. When it boils down to it, it seems likely that both companies buy the handsets with the same overheads and naturally that's going to be passed on to the customer. It may be a different story by the time Vodafone comes along but for now, that's the way it is.

That said, there are differences in the price plans, if not the overall cost of each package. Combine that with an alternative way of looking at each deal and you start to get a better picture of where the real value lies. Take a look. The O2 packages are in blue and the ones from Orange in, er, orange.

What strikes you first if you glance over to the far right column is that, generally speaking, those 24 month contracts seem to cost a lot more in the long run. In fact, if you look at the differences in similar deals over the two time periods, it's quite astonishing. So, it appears that extending the term to alleviate the initial outlay might not be such a good idea. Together with the fact that your phone is more likely to be out-dated in the course of 2 years and it looks very bad indeed.

Beyond that, it's quite impressive how well these tariffs have been set out within each provider as well. The jump up from handset to handset within each tariff is regular according to the time frame of pay back. The bottom line is that you're not going to find one deal that significantly better value than another. On the other hand, it does give you a better idea of which one might best suit your needs.

Other Choices

Other important considerations beyond the plan are going to be over which network is going to suit you. Both providers offer "unlimited" Wi-Fi hotspot access with their partners as well as making you pay additionally for internet tethering as well.

Both also provide what they call unlimited data packages too. Orange puts a real figure to it of 750MB, whereas O2 only refers to a fair usage policy which is designed to reflect proper usage as well as the user's drain on the rest of the network. In practice, it's designed to make sure people are just using their allowances for mobile browsing, but at the same time it does give the company a license to set the bar wherever it pleases. Which proves to be more in practice is anyone's guess.

Much has been suggested about O2's quality of network as well, but its people have also looked to the handset's short-comings to explain a perceived poor reception. It's unlikely there'll be a huge difference with Orange, so at the end of the day, you'll do best to stick with the provider that works best in your area.

Last of all, it's worth considering the added benefits. One reason for not talking about the PAYG plans is that Orange is applying its animal tariffs to them where you can receive free weekend and evening calls or unlimited texts or free music. At the same time, O2 has top-up bonuses to consider as well.

So, until Vodafone arrives onto the scene, what it might all come down to is Orange Wednesdays and a bit of personal choice. Of course, by that time there'll be a new iPhone to consider - in leaks if not in reality. Decisions, decisions. Ever thought about Android?

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Related links:

• News - Orange confirms 10 November for iPhone

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Orange iPhone Apple Tariffs Features O2

Best iPhone tariffs: O2 vs Orange originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:22:07 +0000

Orange has now officially confirmed what we've previously reported - it will offer the iPhone in the UK from 10 November.

The iPhone 3G and 3GS will be available in Orange stores on Tuesday 10 November from 7am in certain stores with some shops staying open late.

The iPhone will be available on Orange in all Orange stores, online, at Orange HMV concessions, as well as through Apple Retail Stores, Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U.

Revealing that a quarter of a million have pre-registered interest for the Apple phone, Orange says it will offer the iPhone on a pay as you go basis, to pay-monthly customers and to business customers too.

As far as pay as you go goes, customers who top-up ?50 at purchase will get an iPhone 3G for ?333 while the iPhone 3GS 32GB will be ?539. This compare's to O2's pricing of ?538.30.

The pay as you go deals offer just 250MB of data each month, plus a year's BT Openzone access.

On a pay monthly basis the iPhone 8GB, 16GB and 32GB models will be available on various monthly plans, with the 3GS 16GB free on all ?45 plans and the 3G model free from ?30 plans - both with a 24-month contract.

The cheapest monthly contract, a ?29.36 per month, 2-year contract will see the iPhone 3GS 32GB charged at ?225 with the handset only available free for those paying out for a ?73.40 a month contract. In terms of data, Orange has a "fair usage" allowance of 750MB per month.

O2's free handset structure for the 3GS 32GB is similar, although it charges ?274.23 for the phone on lower-cost 18-month tariffs and ?175.19 for the device on its 24-month ?34.26 plan.

iPhone owners who want to use their iPhone to get mobile broadband on their laptop can take out additional tethering bundles starting at ?5 per month.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Orange iPhone Apple Tariffs

Orange confirms 10 November for iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:27:49 +0000

The Apple iPhone is said to be due for a launch on Orange on 10 November, according to a report in The Times.

That Orange is to offer the iPhone - ending O2's exclusivity - is well known, but no date has yet been revealed as to when customers might hope to get the Apple mobile on the Orange network.

"The Times has learnt that Orange will start selling the handset in a little over two weeks. More than 200,000 people have pre-registered to buy an iPhone through the operator in the past month", says the paper.

The date makes sense as it's the first day after the O2-Apple 2-year exclusive agreement ends as O2 first offered the iPhone for sale in the UK on 9 November 2007.

We are waiting for official comment from Orange on the news and will update this story when we have more.

UPDATE: An Orange spokesperson says: "While we haven't yet announced a launch date, we have announced that iPhone will be available from Orange before Christmas. We look forward to announcing a launch date and pricing plans in the coming weeks".

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Read

Tags: Phones Apple iPhone Orange Rumours

Orange to launch iPhone on 10 November originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:36:31 +0000

Orange has announced that it will be making up to 20 meg download speeds a standard across all its home broadband packages - where such service is available.

As well as introducing the new speeds, Orange has revamped its home broadband packages with the cheapest option now coming in at ?7 a month for Orange mobile customers.

There are now four price plans to choose from - Home Starter, Select, Max and Ultra.

Pricing for those that are not Orange mobile customers comes in at ?10, ?12, ?20 and ?24 a month and all are 18-month contracts with unlimited download usage allowance.

The higher priced packages offer some landline calls bundled in while the Ultra sees Orange's "Livebox" router supplied as part of the price.

There's more info, including small print and details of the "unlimited" claim to be found over at orange.co.uk/broadband.

Tags: Software Orange Broadband Tariffs Phones

Orange announces 20 meg broadband as standard originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:04:17 +0100

There are "thousands" of iPhones running on the 3 network across the UK, a spokesperson for the operator has told Pocket-lint.

The comment came in response to our query following a report from The Telegraph that all five mobile carriers in the UK are currently offering the iPhone, whether or not they are official operator partners. ?

T-Mobile has been offering the device to high-spending customers as part of an unofficial retention plan, and? 3 is employing the same policy, albeit in very limited numbers.

"Thousands of people have chosen to use their iPhone on the 3 network", the 3 spokesperson told us, referring to iPhones that have either been unofficially unlocked - "jailbroken" - or officially unlocked and in the UK via distribution channels in Europe.

O2 is currently the only official Apple iPhone partner in the UK, but is soon to be joined by T-Mobile merger partner Orange this year and Vodafone in 2010.

Tags: Phones iPhone 3 O2 Orange Vodafone T-Mobile Rumours Apple

"Thousands" of iPhones on 3 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:59:02 +0100

Following the news that O2 has lost its operator exclusive on the iPhone, Carphone Warehouse has suffered a similar fate with its retail exclusive.

Phones4U has announced that it will be selling the Apple iPhone range from both Orange and O2 in shops and online while Orange's in-store deal with HMV means the Apple mobile will also be on sale in select HMV stores too.

The news from Phones4U alone means the iPhone will be available soon at an additional 400-plus shops across the UK.

Brendan Sweeney, Phones4U's managing director said in a release: "We are very pleased to be partnering with both Orange and O2 to sell the iPhone. Recognised for our in-depth understanding of the youth market and their needs, our knowledgeable and skilled staff are in a strong position to introduce the Apple iPhone to our Phones4U customer base".

It's as yet unknown when Orange iPhone sales will begin, with mid-November thought likely, while Vodafone will also offer the device in 2010.

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Related links:

• Reviewed - iPhone 3GS

Tags: Phones iPhone Phones4U O2 Orange Mobile phone industry Vodafone HMV Carphone Warehouse

Phones4U and HMV to offer the iPhone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:48:59 +0100

If you're itching to get your hands on Nokia's new N97 Mini then you'll be interested to hear that mobile phone comparison site Omio has some early Orange deals live now.

There's a wide variety of options to choose from, but all mean splashing out cold, hard cash on the new handset with, as an example, a handset price of ?97.50 and ?34.25 per month getting the N97 Mini on a 24-month deal of 1200 minutes and unlimited texts.

Nokia's new Nseries device is due to be officially released on 23 October and will also be offered by Vodafone, who is yet to reveal pricing. Nokia will also offer the device SIM-free for ?429.

However, unless you're totally desperate to grab the new phone in the next few days, then we'd suggest hanging on to see all the deals from Vodafone and Orange as we'd hope there may be some more competitive pricing.

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Tags: Phones Nokia Nokia N97 Mini Omio Orange Tariffs

Nokia N97 Mini available now via Omio originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:00:16 +0100

Google has written a blog post and put together a video about one of the biggest new features that comes with the Android 1.6 update (better known as "Donut") - the Quick Search Box. This is a system-wide search engine for your device, meaning that it can look through apps, contacts, and browser history as well as content from the Web.

It'll also provide suggestions as you type, meaning that you won't need to muck about with an on-screen keyboard as much as you might with a traditional search box. Quick Search Box will also learn from your habits and give you faster access to things you search for the most often.

You can also use voice on the search box - tapping the microphone icon and speaking your query or the name of the person you want to call. That only works in English for now, though. Lastly, developers will be pleased to hear that they can hook into the Quick Search Box too - Google's provided some tips on that front on its developer blog.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Google Android HTC Magic HTC Hero Orange T-Mobile T-Mobile mytouch 3G

Google introduces quick search box for Android originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:21:31 +0100

Vodafone has confirmed that HTC Magic?customers in the UK will be getting the latest Android OS update on Monday 19 October.

"Donut (Android 1.6), the latest version of Google’s Android operating system, is making its way onto the HTC Magic, with the UK roll-out scheduled for October 19", it said to FoneHome.co.uk, a site that the mobile phone operator sponsors in the UK.

The news, which will bring a number of new features, follows Donut rolling out to US MyTouch users, the virtually identical handset.

The update includes an improved Android market, a rolling-together of the camera, camcorder and gallery interfaces, an updated voice search app, and better search experience from the home screen. It also fixes bugs and improves the general performance of the device.

No word on whether or not the HTC Hero, available on Orange and T-Mobile in the UK will be getting the software OS update at the same time.

In the US, Sprint's HTC Hero, which ships on the 11 October will ship with version 1.6 according to Sprint, however Pocket-lint's review unit came with Android 1.5 installed.

We will keep you posted.?

UPDATE on 21/10/09: Vodafone has confirmed that the Donut upgrade is currently being rolled out to Vodafone HTC Magic users in the UK. This process is taking place between the 19-26 October.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones Vodafone Android HTC Magic HTC Hero Orange T-Mobile T-Mobile mytouch 3G

HTC Magic to eat Android 1.6 Donut update within days originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:47:25 +0100

Orange has announced it is to offer live coverage of the England versus Ukraine World Cup qualifier on Saturday, via the official Kentaro online broadcast.

We're not entirely sure why you'd want to go down the Orange route, rather than go direct, it's the same price, so brand loyalty to your operator maybe?

Signing up now to view the online-only match will see the event charged at ?4.99, Thursday and Friday sign-ups will be charged ?9.99 and those that leave it to Saturday will see a fee of ?11.99.

As well as via Orange, Football fans can sign up over at the official site to see the match with live coverage due to start at 4.45pm on 10 October.

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Tags: Sports Fitness Orange Football Online IPTV Home Cinema Phones

Orange to offer England Ukraine match originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:53:04 +0100

Microsoft has officially launched Windows 6.5 or Windows Phone to you and me on Tuesday, but what phones can you get with the new operating system and what phone can you upgrade?

If you've already bought a HTC Touch Diamond II, HTC Touch Pro II, HTC Snap S552 or Toshiba TG01 WP, you can upgrade today via the HTC and Toshiba websites bringing you all the new features without having to buy a new handset.

If you want to upgrade your handset, here is the official list from Redmond of what you can get your hands on now and in the near future:

New handsets in the UK

• HTC Touch II from T-Mobile and Carphone Warehouse
• HTC Touch HD II from O2 and Carphone Warehouse
• LG GM750 from Vodafone
• Samsung Omnia II and Samsung Omnia Lite from Carphone Warehouse
• Samsung Omnia Pro - B7730 from Carphone Warehouse on 30 October?
• Sony Ericsson X2 from Vodafone on 30 October?
• Samsung Omnia Pro B7610 from O2 on 30 November

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New handsets in North America

• HTC Pure from AT&T
• HTC Imagio from Verizon Wireless
• Samsung Intrepid from Sprint, available 11 Oct, 2009
• HTC Tilt 2 from AT&T, available in the coming weeks

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In Europe

• MDA Vario V, MDA Compact V and HTC Touch2 and the Samsung Omnia II from Deutsche Telekom in select European markets
• HTC HD2 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France
• HTC Touch2 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France, Spain, Switzerland and Romania
• A software update for the HTC Touch Pro2 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France, U.K. and Romania
• Samsung Omnia II from Orange, available in the coming weeks in Poland, Switzerland and Slovakia and from early December in France
• Samsung Omnia LITE from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France and Spain
• Samsung Omnia PRO B7320 from Orange, available in the coming weeks in France and the U.K.
• Toshiba TG01 W from Orange, available as an update to the TG01 in the coming weeks in France, the U.K., Switzerland and Romania
• LG GM750 and Samsung Omnia II from SFR in France?
• TMN Bluebelt 2 and TMN Silverbelt, made by ZTE Corp., from TMN in Portugal
• Samsung Omnia II and Omnia LITE from TMN in Portugal
• HTC Touch Diamond2 from Vodafone in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa and Central Europe
• HTC Touch Pro2 from Vodafone in the U.K. and Switzerland
• LG GM750 from Vodafone in Germany, the U.K., Spain and the Netherlands?

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In Latin America

• Samsung Omnia available in the coming weeks from TIM Brasil

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Open market in Europe:

• Samsung Omnia II, Omnia LITE, Omnia PRO B7320, Omnia PRO B7330 and Omnia PRO B7610 available in October

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In Asia

• ZTE X60 from China Unicom
• HTC Touch Diamond2 from Telstra

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Open market in Asia

• Acer beTouch E100, beTouch E101, beTouch E200 and Acer neoTouch
• Garmin-ASUS n?vifone M20 ?
• HTC Snap, HTC Touch Pro2, HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch2
• LG GM730 and LG GM550
• Samsung Omnia II and Samsung Omnia PRO B7320, Omnia PRO B7330

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Handsets that can be upgraded from 6.1 to 6.5

• HTC Touch Diamond II from T-Mobile and Carphone Warehouse?
• HTC Touch Pro II from Vodafone on 14 October
• HTC Snap S552?
• Toshiba TG01 WP from Orange

Related links:

• Link - HTC

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Microsoft Windows Phone Windows Mobile HTC Samsung LG Orange T-Mobile AT and T Sony Ericsson

Microsoft Windows Phones: What phones are available originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:18:39 +0100

Orange has opened its first ever "multimedia store" in the UK claiming to deliver a "completely new dimension of multimedia services to the community in the area".

Described as a "digital playground", the store features a 70-inch screen and seating, live handsets on display, a photo clock with pics of MK, a giant virtual Mexican Wave created by customers - oh - and a bouncy rubber floor.

To mark the launch of the store in Milton Keynes' thecentre:mk, Orange has wheeled out Conor for a quick video tour - hit play in the window above to see the clip.

Tags: Phones Mobile phone industry Orange shopping Video

VIDEO: Orange multimedia store opens in Milton Keynes originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:40:43 +0100

An iPhone price war is unlikely to happen says the CEO of Carphone Warehouse in the UK when Orange and Vodafone offer the handset in the coming months.

“I am not convinced there will be a price war. That is a game that only leads in one direction and that is all of them losing. This battle will be fought on other fronts", Andrew Harrison, chief executive of Carphone Warehouse has told The Times of London.

The comments come as Orange prepares to stock the iPhone before the end of the year ending a 2 year exclusive run from competing operator O2.

Consumers are hoping that the French owned operator will be forced into a price war alongside Vodafone when it starts stocking the iPhone in 2010 to lure customers away from O2.

According to the article, Orange has already received 125,000 pre-orders for the handset from Apple as customers, unhappy with O2's coverage and recent data network crashes, look to move away from the service.

At the time of the announcement O2 said:

"We always knew that iPhone exclusivity was for a limited period of time, but our relationship with Apple continues and will be an ongoing success".

"We also offer award-winning customer service and benefits, which is why more people choose O2 than any other network in the UK", says the operator.

Expect tariff wars to get heated.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phones iPhone Orange O2 Vodafone Tariffs

iPhone price war unlikely originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:19:00 +0100

Motorola has dropped us a line to tell us that its DEXT handset will be available on 6 October. The QWERTY slider is the company's first attempt at an Android handset, and is also the first to get the MOTOBLUR interface.

As previously reported on Pocket-lint, the DEXT will be offered free on 2-year contracts from Orange at ?35 per month, and that'll include 900 minutes, unlimited texts, a data allowance and Orange maps.

Motorola's CEO has confirmed that the DEXT won't be the only Android handset that the company will be offering. It has a range of devices that are scheduled for 2010.

The DEXT will be available from Orange retail outlets on 7 October, Phones4U shops from 8 October, and if you really want to get your hands on the device as early as possible then show up at the Orange Multimedia Store in Milton Keynes on 6 October at 3pm, when it'll premiere.

Related links:

• News - Motorola DEXT confirmed for October launch
• Photos - Motorola's DEXT Android handset
• Reviewed - Motorola DEXT mobile phone

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Motorola Motorola Dext Motorola CLIQ Orange

Motorola DEXT gets release date originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:14:09 +0100

O2 has run out of the iPhone 3GS, according to reports. Ahead of the operator losing exclusivity of the high-end smartphone, stock issues have meant there are none to be sold.

An O2 spokesperson told the Telegraph: ?We continue to see extremely high levels of demand for the iPhone which means it comes in and out of stock very quickly and will be why the website hasn't had any since Monday".

The O2 website states that both black and white iPhone 3GS are "not currently available" for contract or PAYG customers while the Telegraph suggests the majority of O2 shops across the UK have been without any of the 3GS models for the last 2 weeks.

Some are suggesting that the shortage may be due to Apple diverting stock to Orange ahead of the iPhone sales debut on that network, but back in July, Apple's CFO admitted: ?We are currently unable to make enough iPhone 3GS to meet robust demand and we are working to address this".

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Tags: Phones iPhone O2 Apple Orange Rumours

O2 runs out of the iPhone 3GS originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:43:12 +0100

Turns out that Vodafone will be getting their hands on the iPhone too. The company joins Orange, who recently announced that they'd be breaking O2's exclusive and also selling the device. A deal is understood to have been signed on the evening of 28 September.

The news was first rumoured by the Telegraph, but was confirmed to Pocket-lint by Vodafone's press office, who told us that the handset would be arriving in early 2010. Beginning today, Vodafone customers will be able to register their interest in the 3G and 3GS at vodafone.co.uk/iphone.

Vodafone's chief executive, Vittorio Colao, has said that the key reason why his company lost 160,000 subscribers in the last quarter was that he didn't have an iPhone to sell them. Vodafone's most juicy exclusive over the last year has been the Android-equipped HTC Magic.

Analysts suspect that more carriers offering the handset will lead to prices coming crashing down. Steven Hartley, analyst at technology research house Ovum, said: "There will be a price war. Research shows that in every country where there is more than one operator selling it, it is cheaper".

He expects the contracts to come down by about ?5 per month, shaving ?120 off the price of the handset when spread over a 2-year contract. The Telegraph also claims that Virgin Mobile are "desperate" to get their hands on the iPhone, too.

We'll keep you posted of pricing and contract details as soon as they're announced.

Read

Related links:

• News - iPhone 3GS coming to Orange UK
• Via - the Telegraph

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Vodafone Orange O2 iPhone Apple Biz Rumours

iPhone coming to Vodafone originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:09:21 +0100