Orange builds own iPad to pip Apple
Orange plans to have its own version of Apple’s iPad on sale in France before Christmas – for €250, or €100 with 3G deal
DESPITE being the second-biggest seller of iPhones in the world, Orange is taking on Apple with plans to launch its own €250 version of the iPad tablet before Christmas.
The French mobile giant is said to be keen to rejig its relationship with Apple, which keeps a tight rein on sales and contracts.
Initial reports say Orange will launch three versions of the touch-screen tablet and, with 3G capability, they will be available on contracts from as low as €100.
The so-far unnamed Orange tablet will be made in Asia, based on Google’s Android open source operating system – the best selling OS in the world – and will be vastly cheaper than the €599 for a 16Gb iPad.
While the Orange tablet would free it from Apple restrictions and profit-sharing it would also allow the French firm to put its own content, such as TV and music store on the machine.
Tablets like the iPad are computers which use a touch-screen control system and can be used to surf the internet, watch films, read books and, with 3G installed, make phone calls using a headset.
Orange already has a tablet, called the Tabbee (pictured), which was launched last year. It used WiFi and 3G and sells for €199.
