Paris, February 16, 2009Strategic partnership signed between Orange and HP to drive consumer adoption
of mobile broadband across Europe
Orange today continued its drive to give more mobile broadband customers Internet
on the move, with a new partnership signed with Hewlett Packard. The deal means
Orange and HP will co-distribute and market a range of consumer notebooks and HP Minis with mobile and/or fixed broadband access. The three-year pan-European
agreement will underpin the delivery of connected offers in the UK, Belgium, Switzerland,
Austria and Portugal, to be followed by a rollout across the Orange footprint.
The HP line of products will join Orange’s successful mobile broadband portfolio
of notebooks and netbooks, giving customers everywhere seamless, simple and affordable
access to services such as mobile internet, TV and other multimedia services.
Demand for mobile broadband globally has seen Orange’s mobile broadband customer
base, including smartphone customers, increase to 23.2 million at 30 Sep 08 - an 81% increase from the previous year .
Olaf Swantee, SEVP of Orange’s communications services, says: “The demand for
mobile broadband is a global phenomena. Adding a select range of HP Notebooks
and Minis to our successful portfolio of connected offers is just the kick off
phase.” Olaf adds, “Our partnership with HP is based on more than just sales. Together,
we will define new ways to bring services to customers, from co-marketing activities
through to distribution, supply chain and care, reinforcing our commitment to
make it easy for everyone to access the internet and their content, whenever and
wherever they want.”
Eric Cador, senior vice president, HP PSG EMEA, added: “The partnership with
Orange has created a new and important channel for HP as customers increasingly
turn to the power of the mobile internet. Our vision is to make mobile internet simple and always available for people
wherever they are, giving customers an even better mobile experience by leveraging
Orange’s and HP’s unique experience and knowledge.”
One of these offers is the brand new Compaq Mini 700 which, in the UK, allows
customers to buy a ready to use internet connected notebook for £30 a month .
As well as a HP Compaq Mini 700, each package consists of Orange’s ‘Internet Everywhere’
mobile broadband service and dongle as well as a 3GB data allowance and 24 month
manufacturer warranty.
1 Notebooks and HP Mini’s can be bought separately from mobile and fixed broadband
access.
2 As of end September 2008 (Q3 08 earnings)
For further information, please contact
Orange
Georgina Hart
+44 7730 989 693
georgina.hart@orange-ftgroup.com