Orange introduces new Connected Laptops and dongles for consumer and SME business customers

Orange today announced two new ‘Connected Laptops’; the Asus 1005HGO and the Compaq CQ61, both featuring the new operating system Windows 7, as well as two new dongles –making it even easier for customers to access the online content they need, whether at work or play.

Connected laptop refresh

Consumer and small and medium sized business customers will not only be able to use the devices to access Orange’s extensive 3G network which currently covers over 93% of the UK population, but they can also make significant cost savings by not paying the full price upfront.

• The Asus 1005HGO with embedded SIM card which is exclusive to Orange. Weighing just 1.27kg, this laptop comes equipped with Windows 7 Starter, a webcam and features a compact 10.1” screen. This small, light-weight laptop is perfect for people that travel or work remotely.
• The Compaq CQ61 with Orange e1752 dongle comes with Windows 7 Home Premium and features a 15.6” screen. It also has a web cam and DVD player.

Customers can choose from 18 or 24 month tariffs that range from £25 (i) through to £40 per month on 1GB, 3GB, or 5GB plans, all designed to provide choice, flexibility and great value for money to our customers.

In addition, small and medium sized businesses taking a laptop on a 24 months plan will also benefit from unlimited UK data (subject to fair usage).

Dongle refresh

Orange is also introducing two new dongles to its range. Firstly, the Orange e1752 dongle which will be provided inclusively with a selection of Orange’s mobile broadband packages (ii), as well as the Option 515M, exclusive to Orange, which will come with a free 8GB Micro SD memory card at launch and will be available from only £20 across most mobile broadband price plans.

Orange’s mobile broadband price plans remain unchanged with customers being able to choose from 500MB, 1GB, 3GB or 10GB per month.

François Mahieu, Director of Devices, Orange UK “These new mobile broadband devices provide both our consumers and small and medium-sized business customers with the latest technology and best value for money. We will continue to build on these offerings throughout 2010 to ensure our customers benefit from one of the most competitive product portfolios in the UK.”

Orange’s mobile broadband offering was recently rated number one in the UK, coming top for both quality and value for money by independent research company YouGov (iii).

The new connected laptops and dongles are available from all of Orange’s retail channels including telesales, Orange shops and online at www.orange.co.uk/shop

ENDS

Notes to editors

i. All prices quoted in the press release include VAT. Please note business customer prices exclude VAT.

ii. This excludes our ‘freedom plans’ which are 30 day tariffs that offer either 3GB or 10GB usage. Customers need to purchase the dongle at £29 for these tariffs.

iii. Best quality, best value; we're rated Number 1

That's right, we are rated the UK's Number 1 mobile broadband provider in YouGov's latest dongle tracker report. Our customers rated us top in no less than 9 categories, including best for overall quality and value, taking us straight to the top of the class.

2,181 mobile broadband users took part in the independent quarterly survey with fieldwork conducted in October this year.

NB. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 4,417 adults, of which 2,181 used mobile broadband by means of a dongle, modem stick, or datacard. Orange’s mobile broadband sample was 230 users. This is the sixth wave of an independent study. Fieldwork was undertaken between 6th October and 12th October 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have not been weighted. MVNOs have been excluded.

About Orange

Orange is the key brand of the France Telecom Group, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. With 126 million customers, the Orange brand now covers Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the Group operates.

In the UK, Orange provides high quality GSM coverage to 99% of the UK population, and 3G coverage to more than 93%. At the end of September 2009, Orange had more than 17 million customers in the UK – 16.11 million active mobile customers and approximately 900,000 fixed broadband customers.

At the end of 2008, France Telecom had consolidated sales of 53.5 billion euros (38.1 billion euros for the first nine months of 2009) and at 30 September 2009, the Group had a customer base of almost 190 million customers in 32 countries. These include 128.8 million mobile customers and 13.4 million broadband Internet (ADSL) customers worldwide. Orange is the number three mobile operator and the number two provider of broadband Internet services in Europe and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Personal Communications Services Limited.

For more information please call the Orange Press Office 0870 3731500, or visit www.orange.co.uk/newsroom