Orange launches first 4G own-branded smartphones
Orange is adding three smartphones to its own-branded device range including its first 4G-enabled touchscreen smartphones.
The move forms the latest step in the mobile network's aggressive device development expansion strategy, having reported a 62 per cent hike in smartphone sales in 2012, boosting its market share by 77 per cent.
Yves Maitre, senior vice president of Mobile Multimedia and Devices, Orange, said: “All of our customers around the world, from Bordeaux to Bucharest, are hungry for sophisticated yet affordable mobile phones that allow them to reap the benefits of the mobile internet.
“The growth of our portfolio and, most importantly, the response from our customers, shows that our strategy is resonating in the highly competitive smartphone market that we’re operating in today.”
The 4G smartphone Orange will introduce is called Lumo while the other two are San Remo, and Nivo, all of which run Android. They will launch in the first half of this year in Orange markets including Spain and will be on display at Mobile World Congress next week. However, there are currently no plans to bring them to the UK.