Archive for the ‘Orange’ Category

UK’s first commercial contactless mobile payment system

January 31st, 2011

Contactless mobile payment systems have been a subject of much debate and discussion. Many who support the tech claim it is a way to streamline service as many customers use their cellphones for so much and the next step would be to add the ability to pay for items through ones mobile phone (using NFC or “Near Field Communications” technology) by simply waving it in front of a dedicated device. Those who oppose it claim it’s a breach of privacy and opens up the way for more identity theft.

That said, those who have hoped for such a system can rejoice as the first contactless payment systems will be coming to UK consumers in the summer of 2011. The companies behind the initial rollout, Barclaycard and Orange, which had announced their partnership back in 2009, believe that the launch of this system will be the biggest revolution in payment systems since the introduction of the credit cards more than 40 years ago.

Commenting on the announcement, Gerry McQuade, Chief Development Officer of Everything Everywhere said the following: “We’re making something that’s been talked about for many years a reality and very soon, using your mobile to buy a sandwich, a cinema ticket or in time, even something bigger like a computer will simply be the norm. As Britain’s biggest communications company, we’re proud to be delivering this technical and cultural innovation to the UK through the Orange brand. Orange and Barclaycard customers will be the first to be able to use their mobiles to make payments on the high street wherever contactless payments are accepted. This is part of our wider strategy to re-define what people use their mobiles for, with mobile payments being the start.”

Source: Orange Newsroom

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Orange on 3G Advertisement: Not Without a Fight

July 2nd, 2010

Orange Mobile UK has invested heavily in the development and growth of their 3G network and they are proud of it. The company is boasting that they have the “biggest 3G network” and they seem to have the numbers to prove it. Despite this, the Advertising Standard Authority has ruled that Orange should not use the slogan nor should Orange talk about their 3G coverage.

While the network operator has complied with the ASA ruling, they have confirmed that they will contest the decision. The mobile network operator is even pushing for a full industry wide study in order to verify their claim and add credence to the slogan they want to use.

In many ways, the ASA would have to allow the investigation to push through. Their original ruling was based on the fact that the advertisement has not been properly “substantiated”; should Orange be able to fully support their claims with cold hard facts, then the ruling would need to be pulled back.

Orange has also defended that their slogan was not misleading as an argument from ASA stated. The ad clearly said that Orange has the largest network covering the most people –a claim that can be easily backed by data. This does not coincide with the ASA ruling which stated that a mobile network cannot be easily compared to another.

The ASA is taking a firm stand on the issue and is not pulling back on its sanctions.

In some ways, Orange Mobile UK should stand up for its original claims. While the ASA may have filed a ruling, the network operator has a principle and reputation to live up to. Pushing for an “independent, industry wide verification” in order to prove that their claims are indeed based on fact is the only direction they can take –if they wholly rescind their claims, then it would appear that the ad was entirely baseless to begin with.

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Orange Mobile UK: Blocking Out the Sun for Footy Fans

June 13th, 2010

The sun has always been the biggest enemy of mobile phone user, and anyone who has tried watching anything on a TFT screen under direct sunlight would know, the glare will not let you do anything.

There are, of course, plenty of solutions and remedies for this. People have long since resorted to using umbrellas (can get uncomfortable after a while with having an umbrella in one hand or tucked under the chin, and a phone in the other), others have taken to the shelter under trees or roofs, and others simply opted not to use their handset when in direct sunlight.

But what about people who are dining al fresco? Or attending a live game on an open stadium? Or simply enjoying the morning sun during a pre-breakfast walk? The glare is an issue that everyone has to deal with, and Orange Mobile UK has decided that it is time they did something about it.

A quick visit to the Orange UK website will show you, victim of sun glare, how to counter-act this menace. The site is offering everyone (yes, everyone, not just Orange Mobile subscribers) a free downloadable PDF file which will teach you how to make you own sun visor. In fact, you can print out the PDF and cut it out to mount on your mobile phone!

Kidding aside,, it is easy to strap a piece of cardboard on a mobile phone, but it actually takes careful planning to make a visor that blocks the sun out while still making it comfortable to look at the screen. And of course, the visor color is black so it really blocks out the glare. With the football season already starting, this visor add-on will certainly be a very useful tool for anyone who is caught out in the glare of the sun.

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Orange Now Live With Its Application Shop

December 10th, 2009

OrangeOrange Wireless announced only yesterday December 9 the launch of its own application portal, which it calls, The Application Shop. The company said that, the new storefront will soon be available to users’ homescreens, offering them a click access to a wide range of over 5,000 Applications, Ringtones, Games and Wallpapers. Orange also indicates its readiness to work closely with developers and content providers to enhance the number of solutions available with Application Shop.

According to Yves Tyrode, the Executive Vice President of Orange Tecnocentre, “We are giving customers a tailor-made shop window on the mobile that makes it easier to discover, download, use and manage content. Whether it’s a Smartphone user, or someone using a simpler device, we know the demand for contents is there. – It’s just about getting that experience right. That is why we want to give everyone with a phone in their hand the easiest access to personal content, on the most suitable device and tariff, to help them take the parts of the mobile internet that they know and love, everywhere they go.”

The new Orange Software comes with services like Orange Games and Orange Maps, Orange TV and a variety of other premium mobile applications. The software has already been launched on a wide range of mobile phones. Users can also buy and download any content on the same Orange Mobile bill, thereby eliminating the pre-registering of personal credit cards. The company’s desire is to give users full value for their money, as they intend to make sure that every user enjoy Applications that have been fully tested and suitable for their devices.

The company further states that, “ throughout 2010, Orange will continue to roll-out the App Shop service across its footprint, extending it to Spain, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Slovakia, Belgium, Austria, Moldova and Portugal. In each country, Orange is making the App Shop relevant by providing localized content in the catalogue that best meets specific market needs.”

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