ORANGE joins forces with HP to bring the internet to everyone via mobile broadband

Paris, Strategic 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)