ORANGE TO LAUNCH NEW MOTOROLA MPx200 WITH MICROSOFT WINDOWS MOBILE SOFTWARE

Motorola MPx200 is latest in the Orange Signature handset range

·        Orange first to launch a Windows Mobile™-based Smartphone from a world leading brand manufacturer in Europe

·        Sleek clam-shell design to appeal to high-end consumer and business professional market

·        Announcement builds on relationships between Orange, Motorola and Microsoft

September 15 2003. London. Orange, Motorola and Microsoft today unveiled the Motorola MPx200 – with Windows Mobile software – combining the familiarity of the desktop computer with the convenience and accessibility of a mobile phone. The Motorola MPx200 is aimed at professional consumers and is the latest phone in the Orange Signature handset range – a series of phones designed to marry the best customer experience with exclusive Orange services.

Today’s news follows Orange and Motorola’s alliance announcement made in June and Microsoft and Motorola’s alliance announcement made today. It also marks another major landmark for Orange – the operator was first to launch a Windows Mobile -based smartphone, the SPV (Sound Pictures Video), in Oct 2002.

Orange customers can use the handset to surf the internet in full colour, watch and listen to music and video clips, download games and synchronise their PC with their phone, allowing them to keep up to date with their Microsoft Outlook^® contacts, calendar and emails – all in a sleek clamshell design. They can also send photo messages with a small attachable camera (available separately). The Motorola MPx200 delivers all the tools to conduct wirefree™ business and after-work fun.

As an Orange Signature handset, the Motorola MPx200 also features exclusive services for Orange customers such as an innovative function called Orange Backup.  Orange Backup allows customers to store their personal data – such as contacts and calendar – on the Orange network and restore those details when required.  That means that if a customer loses their phone, the information remains secure on the Orange network and can be restored on a new phone. There is also the Orange Update feature which lets customers update their phone with the latest software as well as download and store new applications – such as games and tube maps – over the air.

The Motorola MPx200 is aimed specifically at the professional consumer market – customers who want to stay in touch and synchronised when working or socialising, while benefiting from entertaining features such as Windows Media^® Player for video playback and MP3 capabilities as well as 3D games. These applications and more are all available within the sleek, black clamshell design of the Motorola MPx200.

Richard Brennan, Executive Vice-President of Global Brand, Products and Marketing for the Orange Group, said: “At Orange, we pride ourselves by offering our customers the most innovative products and advanced, easy to use mobile services.

“The launch of the MPx200 builds on our previous work with Microsoft as well as the alliance with Motorola that we announced in June. Our previous work on products using the Windows Mobile software has given us a head start in the development of future advanced phones of this kind. By forging a mutually beneficial relationship with both Motorola and Microsoft, Orange and its customers are reaping the benefits of superior performance and sleek design.”

He added: “Orange is developing a range of Signature devices, which are easier to use and are packed with applications that demonstrate real customer benefit such as Orange Backup, which saves customers data on the Orange intelligent network.”

Tom Lynch, President of Motorola’s Personal Communications Sector, said: “The Motorola MPx200, combined with Orange’s services and intelligent network, the power of Windows Mobile, and the quality guarantee of a Motorola mobile phone, is a breakthrough experience for the mobile professional. In addition to extending the office desktop to the wireless world the MPx200’s powerful multimedia features makes their life simpler, smarter, more synchronised and a whole lot more fun.”

Pieter Knook, Corporate Vice President of Mobile and Embedded Devices at Microsoft, said: “This announcement will deliver truly smart mobile devices with great applications and services on great handsets that will be attractive and appealing to our customers.  I am confident that Microsoft’s relationship with Orange and Motorola will go from strength to strength and we’re looking forward to developing even more exciting products together in the near future.”

The MPx200 will initially be available to Orange UK customers in October.  Other countries within the Orange Group may also range the device. The phone will retail at £239.99 (inc. VAT) subject to an Orange monthly contract.