Orange unveils new mobile gaming offerings

• Three new mobile gaming offerings, Playtomo, Games Zone and Orange iPhone Games
• Playtomo, a mobile operator first, allowing customers to play free games and share their gaming experience through their favourite social networking sites
• All iPhone customers able to access games designed or published by Orange

Orange today announced it is introducing three new mobile gaming offerings, building on its position as the number one operator for mobile gaming.  In a move to bring innovative ways for customers to enjoy entertainment and gaming on their mobile phones to market, this announcement sees a mobile operator first with the launch of Playtomo, access to free games and exclusive competitions on a range of phones including iPhone and Android handsets with Games Zone, and games produced by Orange for the iPhone.

These latest gaming offerings build on Orange’s existing gaming services as well as the recent partnership announcement with HMV, by identifying new ways of delivering greater value products and services to customers.

The latest gaming services from Orange include:

• Playtomo, a social gaming service allowing all UK customers to play games for free and share the fun with friends through social networking sites on their mobile phones⁽¹⁾
• Games Zone, a subscription gaming service offering Orange customers two free games each month, exclusive competitions and 20% discount on additional purchases⁽²⁾
• Orange iPhone Games, giving all UK iPhone customers access to mobile games designed and produced by Orange, available to download from the Apple App Store⁽³⁾

Playtomo is the new social gaming service from Orange designed specifically to be used with customers’ favourite social networks such as Facebook.  The first of a kind offered by a mobile operator, the Playtomo service offers a selection of free, high-quality games ranging from card games to action and adventure platform games. Available to download from Orange’s mobile portal, Orange World, Playtomo integrates directly into social networks so users can share their scores, points and challenge their friends to get involved. Contact lists are easily imported to the service so friends can be invited to join in the fun from any UK phone operator.

Games Zone, Orange’s new subscription based mobile gaming service, is available to download from Orange World and the Orange Shop online. For just £5 a month, customers will receive two games every month from the Orange catalogue and can keep them once their subscription has ended. A further 20% discount is offered on all other games after they use their two-game credit, as well as access to exclusive competitions. Games Zone is also available on a one month free trial to new or upgrading Pay Monthly customers as part of Orange’s new multimedia Animal tariff refresh announced today.

Orange iPhone Games brings tailor-made games to UK iPhone customers through the Apple App Store. Designed specifically or published by Orange for iPhone customers, Orange iPhone Games allows users to enjoy even more entertainment on their mobiles from the trusted Orange brand, including off-road racing, a selection of card games such as Blackjack and Poker and Playtomo.

Neil Holroyd, Head of Gaming Products and Services for Orange, said: “This is an exciting time for Orange, with the launch of these new mobile gaming offerings forming a key part of our strategy to maintain our lead in the gaming market. Innovative gaming services such as Playtomo and Games Zone give customers the best possible gaming experience and value for money on their mobile phone."

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Notes to editor:
(1) Playtomo went live on 29th March 2010
(2) Games Zone will launch on 31st March 2010
(3) Orange iPhone Games will be available from late-April 2010

About Orange:
Orange is the key brand of the France Telecom Group, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. With 131.8 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 December 2009, Orange had more than 17.4 million customers in the UK – 16.5 million active mobile customers and approximately 900,000 fixed line internet customers.

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

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