By Jo Best, 1 July 2004 13:15
NEWS Orange has today announced details of its 3G network plans, with a data card scheduled for release next month and some Orange-compatible 3G handsets hot on its heels.
The Orange Mobile Office Card will provide coverage to around 66 per cent of the UK by population with what it describes as a "seamless" handover between the 2.5 and 3G networks.
The card will be offered with a range of tariffs, the most expensive being £75 per month for an all-you-can-use arrangement, with the 3G card reaching speeds of 384Kbps. Prices for the card itself start at £85, up to £255 with the pay-as-you-use tariff.
Users will also be able to roam on the Continent with Orange's Freemove partners in Spain, Italy and Germany, as well as Orange's own network in France.
The cards will officially be available from Orange shops on 19 July and through various partners from August.
Sanjiv Ahuja, Orange's CEO, described the launch as "the first major step, not just for Orange, but, in some ways, for all the European operators", adding "it's time for the industry to start catching up to Orange."
While Orange may claim better coverage than Vodafone which launched its own 3G data card earlier this year - it has taken considerably longer to get to market.
Richard Brennan, executive VP, global brand, marketing and products, Orange Group, said that the delay in the launch had been down to resolving issues of battery life on the 3G handsets and the handover between 2.5G and 3G networks. "We're confident that those issues have been ironed out."
And while Orange may claim greater coverage of the UK including "all major cities" the new 3G card won't be much use to 34 per cent of the population.
Responding to a question from silicon.com, Allwood said Orange was aiming to have 80 per cent of the country covered by next year but as to greater coverage, "it's the law of diminishing returns... where we go from there, it's in terms of take-up."
The French-owned operator also gave a few hints as to its consumer 3G rollout, saying it had chosen LG and Sony Ericsson as its partners for the eventual launches in the UK and France but gave no dates for when users can get their hands on the handsets, except to say "later this year".
Comments
There are 5 comments. Join the discussion
1. anonymous
What 3G technology is Orange using? That is a key fact as there are two competing 3G technologies.
2. Brian Burkill
Orange better cover than vodafone.. Dont make me laugh. I have an orange on pay as you go, and a vodafone on tariff. I can virtually guarantee cover on the vodafone, not so on the orange. Orange targeted the cities and left the villages to struggle.
It doesnt matter what they produce, it will still be a rubbish service from a rubbish provider, who cut you off indiscriminately, without reason and expect you to pay for your downtime.
Orange, whos accounting system is unable to process refunds, they have to give you refunds back in call time. The people who actually increase your call time and revenue to them when you ask to reduce it.
Chip on my shoulder about Orange.. Not me????
3. Paul Merrill
What is a "seamless" handover?
If they are offering a "seamless" handover, I take this to mean that the phone are dual 2.5 and 3G compliant. Does anyone know if this is the case?
4. anonymous
Handover occurs when 3G coverage drops and the data call is forced onto the (slower) GPRS network. If this happens without the user knowing (i.e. without the call dropping) then this is known as a seamless handover.
Vodafone already offers this feature on it's 3G network, and it now appears that Orange will do the same.
5. tim
brian burkill can't be any further from the truth. after being suffocated by other "networks" orange has not caused me one single problem in three years.