Orange UK announced their “Orange Mail” solution today across their Signature Device range. It’s designed for companies that have their own email server and is a fully featured ‘push-email’ service combining real-time email delivery with the ability to view attachments, synchronise calendar and contacts and manage your inbox remotely. The new Orange Mail Enterprise Service will launch in phases across the Orange footprint and will start with smartphones and PDAs with greater expansion of the portfolio to include Chinese partner AMOI.
However, one very interesting fact did pop out of the press release, which can be found below in full. It states..
“The eight Signature devices which will support Orange Mail at launch are:
Orange SPV: C600, M3000, M3100 and C700″
Aha! That pretty much confirms our April story about these two devices. Here comes the science bit. The SPV M3100 should prove to be the HTC Hermes – however, it’s not called the Hermes any more. It’s now known under the new HTC brand image as the HTC TyTN. The Orange SPV C700 will probably be the HTC Breeze which now has a new HTC name HTC MTeoR. Still with me? Good 🙂
More info can be found below in the full press release.
ORANGE MAIL – A BREAKTHROUGH IN MOBILE EMAIL SOLUTIONS
FOR THE SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS MARKET
Affordable pricing and a comprehensive range of Signature Devices
Orange Mail Enterprise Service is today announced as part of the Orange Business Services portfolio. Orange Mail Enterprise is a groundbreaking solution that is significantly more affordable than existing ‘push-email’ services and available on a wide range of Signature devices.
Orange Mail Enterprise Service is designed for companies that have their own email server. A fully featured ‘push-email’ service, it combines real-time email delivery with the ability to view attachments, synchronise calendar and contacts and manage your inbox remotely.
With Orange Mail, Orange’s strategy is to ‘democratise’ mobile email, driving widespread adoption and making mobile email as popular and accessible as SMS.
“Today, only around 10% of SMEs use mobile email and it’s often seen as an expensive business tool reserved for senior executives in the company. Our research indicates that this limited uptake is due to barriers such as cost, complexity and the need for specific devices,” says Philippe Bernard, EVP, Orange Business Solutions. “With Orange Mail, we will break down these barriers for SMEs whilst also providing an affordable alternative for large corporations. Within three years, we believe, it will be unusual to encounter a business user who doesn’t have some form of mobile email.”
Orange Mail Enterprise Service will launch in phases across the Orange footprint. Beginning with smartphones and PDAs, the current device range includes eight Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Orange SPV Signature Devices (with many legacy devices also compliant). This will expand to embrace lower cost handsets as rollout accelerates. In addition Orange will increase its business device portfolio to include Chinese partner AMOI.
“Our aim is to open up mobile email to a much wider base of business users across all size of company, transforming how many customers add email to their existing voice service with Orange,” says Philippe Bernard. “With Orange Mail we are addressing all the barriers to entry and making the solution simple to understand and purchase. We will transform perceptions of mobile email from a ‘premium’ service for senior executives to an affordable option for all employees,” he adds.
The key elements that set Orange Mail apart: –
Device range
A broad and growing range of both voice and data centric devices. The eight Signature devices which will support Orange Mail at launch are:
Orange SPV: C600, M3000, M3100 and C700
Sony Ericsson: M600i and P990i
Nokia: E61 and E50
Device launch timings and availability will vary by country.
Signature Devices feature a specially customised Orange Homescreen with a specific icons giving business users one click access to key business applications. By adding the Orange Mail icon to the homescreen Orange ensures quick and easy access to email.
Cost
Over 24 months, Orange Mail TCO is expected to be around 40% less than that of established mobile email solutions on the market today. The cost comprises an affordable flat rate monthly fee, limited or no upfront installation cost and low cost or fully subsidised device.
Implementation
Orange Mail provides a full service package with support for initial self installation, a hotline for end users and on site support for dedicated offers. CD installation ensures straightforward set up without the need for technical skills.
Security
Orange Mail includes comprehensive device management allowing devices to be locked or wiped if mislaid and features end-to-end AES encryption.
“Orange’s new mobile email strategy will not only offer increased choice to customers, but also help to drive awareness of mobile email across the wider market,” comments Nick McQuire, senior analyst, Yankee Group. “Whilst existing players like RIM (BlackBerry) and Microsoft are active in the enterprise market, Orange is also pursuing those companies who are not necessarily convinced yet of the benefits offered by mobile email. The affordable pricing, customer support and range of devices Orange is offering will be key advantages for this audience.”
Roll-out across Orange’s European footprint begins this month in Romania with France following in October. Later in the year Orange Mail will be rolled out in Slovakia, Poland and Belgium, with Spain and UK launching in early 2007.
Orange Mail will supplement Orange’s existing BlackBerry and Microsoft push email options to provide the broadest choice of mobile email solutions available from any operator, covering all market segments and user requirements.