Orange has a major project in the pipeline -- it's planning to bring out its own Android tablet, working with a "large Asian manufacturer", according to French financial newspaper Les Echos.
Buoyed by the success of its budget Boston smart phone, the network operator wants to bring out a 3G-enabled tablet device on pay as you go for less than €250 (£205). This massively undercuts even the cheapest 3G-enabled iPad, which sells for £529.
It could be even cheaper if shoppers sign up for a contract over a year or two, with the potential price of a tablet up front below €100 (around £80). It aims to release the tablet by the end of 2010.
In a Google translation of the French news story that makes a curious kind of sense, Orange is described as wanting to 'democratise the market shelves' for those who think five hundred-odd quid is a tad too much to shell out for a tablet.
We took a look at the Boston Android smart phone in May, one of a range of own-brand, cheapo Orange smart phones that have high-end features such as Wi-Fi, GPS and a 5-megapixel camera, all for a pay as you go price of under £100.
It's not the first time Orange has launched a tablet though. It brought out the 7-inch WiFi 'Tabbee' last year, but didn't have much of an impact. A tablet sporting Android would be a very different proposition.
The article said that France Telecom, the operator behind the Orange brand, was motivated by a desire to "regain control". Apple holds a huge amount of power over the networks that sell its products, such as Orange, which fears being "bound and gagged" by the conditions it imposes.
Since the advent of smart phones, networks have steadily lost brand power as consumers are more interested in the latest cool phone, rather than the contract it comes on. With a range of own-branded smart phones and tablets at low prices, Orange is trying to tip the balance back its own way.
Would you buy a budget tablet? And is Orange doing the right thing by bringing out a wave of Android smart phones at much cheaper prices than we're used to? Would you prefer a phone from a more established manufacturer, even if it costs more? Tell us in the comments.
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Comments 4
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Anonymous 26 August, 2010 16:09
I was in 2 Apple stores in the US recently, and my wife loved the iPad. She doesn't normally care about "techy" things. But we didn't buy one - as over £500 is way too much for any tablet. That and the fact that I am not a fan of iTunes. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that getting my music and videos onto an iPad puts me off.
Therefore, I would certainly consider a "budget" tablet from Orange.
But not just any old budget. Resistive screens are just not a pleasure to use. It was the feel of the iPad my wife loved. So, a budget tablet still has to have the right look and feel. If it is Android it would need to be the right version, and they would need to make it easy to get Apps onto it.
Anonymous 30 August, 2010 20:35
Orange has the worst support out of all the mobile service providers in the UK, they update phones far slower than others and in most cases don't even bother like I found out with my old Blackberry.
They have one of the biggest customer bases due to things like 2for1 cinema tickets and so on but they refuse to help customers in the long run so i would never buy a Orange tablet. Its strange that Orange is putting out cheap devices even though contract phones in their stores are more expensive than other place even if they are provided by Orange. For example the HTC Desire still costs £35 in store while it cost £25 free in other places.
Anonymous 31 August, 2010 11:51
I bought a mobile from Orange just to use as a pay-as-you-go emergency contact in case of vehicle breakdown.
It came with £1,00 credit, which although it has NEVER made a call, has now reduced to 77p! Why 77p
Oh, and now the sim card isn't recognised.
No thanks Orange.
Anonymous 29 September, 2010 17:16
Anonymous who bought a £1 credit sim from Orange and expected it to work forever and ever.
Oh dear.
Breaking news: It costs companies money to keep a mobile number active, they have to keep your details active on their computer systems, and take steps to ensure they hold up to date personal details for the subscriber.
If a company is going to make no money whatsoever from you, then you are not a customer, but are instead a liability.
Orange (as with all mobile phone companies) are in the business of making money.
If you read the little booklet that came with your sim card it will be made crystal clear to you that perpetual PAYG connection by keeping just £1 in your account, and making no calls, is not going to work.
If other mobile phone companies have allowed this then you have been lucky, but I'll bet nobody can get a brand new sim today that allows it.