Orange has unveiled a range of connected laptop packages for both the consumer and business markets. The move follows last months strategic announcement from Orange in which the company pledged to evolve the communications market by offering new ways for customers to connect with the people and things that matter most to them.
Having teamed up with Asus and Hewlett-Packard (HP) to laucnh its first offerings, Orange will offer consumer and small and medium business customers a choice of bundles that include a laptop with mobile broadband access for a fixed monthly rate.
From August, consumers will be able to purchase a package consisting of Oranges Internet Everywhere mobile broadband service and dongle, with a 3GGB per month data allowance,  and an Asus laptop for 25 a month from Orange retail stores. The offer will also be available via telesales and the Orange website.
There are three packages available for small and medium-sized business customers, ranging from 35 – 45 per month, including the Business Everywhere Unlimited bundle, which includes an unlimited data allowance (though with a 5GB per month fair usage policy), and 500 wi-fi minutes, which can be used at over 10,000 UK hotspots. Business customers will receive a HP laptop with Microsoft Windows Vista which, depending on the package chosen, will come either embedded with an Orange SIM or with a Business Everywhere dongle. The business packages will be initially available through telesales, and from Oranges business market teams.
Were committed to delivering quality, service and innovation for customers, so were really pleased to be launching a range of connected laptops offers with our first partners HP and Asus, says Orange UK Devices Director, Francois Mahieu. Over time, we will be looking to expand our offering even further with more suppliers who are at the forefront of laptop technology, making it even easier for our customers to connect to the internet seamlessly, whether it is for work or play.
Orange says it plans to evolve its offering over time to include fixed line broadband and an increased laptop range, available exclusively to the Orange brand.