Orange launches world's first phone using WAP 1.1 technology
[November 17 1999] Orange, the UK's most advanced digital mobile phone network, today launched the Orange Nokia 7110e, the world's first
media phone using WAP 1.1 (Wireless Application Protocol).
The Orange 7110e is one of the first handsets in the world to incorporate Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) 1.1, enabling Orange customers to
access the Orange range of multi media services, including: - news: British, international, and business news from ITN and sports news
from the Press Association and Sporting Life. - traffic and travel information: the UK's first fully comprehensive
mobile traffic and travel service from ITIS, providing access to UK road, rail and tube information.
- entertainment: comprehensive nationwide listings for theatre, comedy, cinema, gigs and TV - searchable by region from Flextech's SceneOne
website.
- business directories: access to Thomson Directories' database of localservices, such as plumbers, taxis, hotels, etc.
- last minute offers: late availability; low cost flight information from lastminute.com
From next year, Orange will offer:
- financial services: banking services from NatWest, allowing customers to see balance updates, transfer funds across accounts and make bill payments
directly on the screen of the phone.
Bob Fuller, COO at Orange, said: ''The launch of this handset on the
Orange network is a landmark in wirefree communications. For the first time, consumers will be able to access essential information from the
Internet, wherever they are. The services are designed to be simple, practical and easy to use.''
Phil Brown, managing director of Nokia Mobile Phones UK, said: ''We are delighted that Orange has chosen the Nokia 7110, the world's first WAP 1.1
phone, to launch its services and furthermore, chosen as a partner in the launch of this new service for end users. The introduction of mobile
Internet access continues the path towards the mobile information society.''
The Orange 7110e features a range of unique features including:
- a microbrowser, giving customers easy, personalised and immediate access to Orange's range of multi media services
- a unique navi-roller, which lets customers browse menus and services by rolling through options and pressing to select, similar in concept to a PC
mouse.
- easy text message input, which uses predictive text input software from Tegic to make keying in words up to 16 times faster
- address book for up to 1,000 names with 4 numbers per name.
The Orange 7110e features a distinctive sliding mouthpiece, which gives instant answering, and prevents accidental key presses when closed.
Combined with a suitable laptop computer, the 7110e has built-in fax and data capability and requires no extra software. The Orange 7110e offers
up to three hours of talk time and up to six days on standby under optimum conditions.
The Orange 7110e has a recommended retail price of £129.99 ( inc VAT). As
an introductory offer, there will be no charge to access Orange's multi media services until 31 January 2000. From 1 February 2000 access to WAP
services will form part of a customer's monthly inclusive minutes and 5 pence per minute after that. A range of different billing options will be
available next year.
Customers can place advance orders on lastminute.com's auction site for the next few days (with proceeds going to WWF), or in any Orange shop,
from today to receive their Nokia 7110e as soon as it becomes available.
Notes: -
- As at 20 October 1999, Orange has 3.5 million customers.
- Prices shown are resale prices currently recommended by Orange.
Resellers are free to set their own terms, so prices and offers available to customers may vary.
