Guest Paul [MVP] Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 You read about it here first, and now it's official! :D P ORANGE LAUNCHES WORLD’S SMALLEST SMARTPHONE – SPV C500 – AS PART OF NEW SIGNATURE PHONE PORTFOLIO • New Pan-European Signature phone partners announced for H2 2004 • More than 20 new Signature phones expected during second half of year Amsterdam. Tuesday 8th June 2004. Orange announced its new Signature phone partners at the World Handset Forum in Amsterdam today and showcased the world’s smallest smartphone – its new SPV C500 with Windows Mobile software. Motorola, Nokia, LG, Sony Ericsson, Sagem, Alcatel, HTC – and for the first time Samsung and Siemens – all feature in the H2 2004 Orange Signature phone portfolio. Orange has been working with the manufacturers to design and develop the hardware and software of its new Signature phones, in order to create a series of unique handsets that offer easy access to advanced mobile services and the best possible customer experience. More than 20 Signature phones are expected to be launched during the second half of 2004 across the Orange group. Other manufacturers are also expected to be included in the catalogue at a later stage. Signature phones have proved to be the most successful Orange handsets in terms of usage and revenues. The Treo 600 and SPV E200 phones have both delivered more than double the revenue of the average non-Signature phone* due to their simple functionality and one-touch access to Orange voice and data services. The latest Orange Signature phone is the SPV C500. It combines the power and familiarity of a PC with the form factor of a pocket-sized mobile phone. It weighs just 100 grams and, with its compact 108mm x 46mm x 16mm frame, is the world’s smallest Smartphone, but still allows for a 65k colour screen and an easy to use versatile keypad. The phone is due to be launched by Orange in seven European countries - the UK, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia - starting in the summer. Pricing details will be available upon launch. Showcasing the SPV C500 for the first time at the World Handset Forum in Amsterdam, Holland, Martin Keogh, Vice President of Global Product Management for Orange, said: “The SPV C500 is a marvel of miniaturisation. It’s a third smaller than the last version of the SPV and targets a specific, as yet untapped, segment of the Smartphone market – the professional consumer who wants to keep their world in their pocket, not their briefcase. “Our customers told us that they loved the functionality of previous SPV phones – the familiarity of their desktop PC, simple Internet access, Outlook on the move – but they wanted a smaller form factor. So we’ve worked with our partners to maintain that experience, but shrink the components inside. However, despite its smaller form-factor, we haven’t compromised on performance. In fact, we’ve enhanced the performance of previous SPVs, offering a new homescreen, video content and messaging reminders.” As with all Orange Signature phones, the SPV C500 gives customers a unique Orange experience on their phone, providing them with a range of exclusive applications and services. The SPV C500 boasts a new home screen (offering instant access to key services), Orange Backup (which allows customers to store their personal and business data on the Orange network and restore those details when required), Packet Video player (offering Packet Video’s innovative progressive download service for smoother access to video content) and Orange Update, which allows customers to trial and download new applications such as ringtones, tube maps and games. Orange Help is also included as an electronic user guide stored directly on the device. Each SPV C500 will also come with an Orange “Try” card – a mini memory card that can be slotted into the phone allowing customers to access content such as a real-time currency converter, interactive city maps and office applications. The Try card allows customers to sample new applications for free and then purchase them directly through Orange. It also has active links to both voice and data services, designed to stimulate usage. Keogh added: “By marrying some of the most trusted and respected household names and providing the quality of the Orange network, ease of use and exclusive Orange Services, our Signature phone series give our customers access to some of the most exciting products, first.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brody Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 The size could make this more popular than was first thought! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kyrkesmith Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 That photoshoped screen on the second pic looks somewhat dodgy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest the loc-man Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 When exactly can we expect this? I know its "summer" but thats a bit of a big time span. Also how much? have the specs been offically announced now as well? Also how much you reckon it will be? How much were the other SPV's on launch on say a £25 tariff? cheers ps is it still worth getting the E200 as I can now upgrade and can get this free where as I think the C500 and MPx220 will prob be a price premium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kyrkesmith Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 July was mentioned somewhere, along with MPx220. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest beersoft Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 eek! its tiny!!! i think its a bit too small for my sausage fingers to use :D but its all good later Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest midnight Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 hence the reason its got pretty large keys for its size :D the keys actually look bigger than the ones on the e100/e200 actually.... dont forget its still the same width as the e100/e200 (the same size of screen governs that) :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest the loc-man Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 what are the confirmed specs on it then? BT? FM radio? Mini SD? CPU?? Memory? OS SE? Camera? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest midnight Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 so far what we know... BT - Yes (and apparently a much better BT implementation than the E200) FM Radio - very much doubt it, no mention of it in that text and i would think they would mention something like that Mini SD - yes, under the battery CPU - Type: OMAP 730, speed is as yet, unknown Memory - Not yet known OS - Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition Camera - 640 x 480 (err, 0.3mp?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crafty Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 All good news for the smartphone community :D Wonder what the new homescreen is all about? Is that why the homescreen on the 'first look thread' was blurred out by midnight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest the loc-man Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 so they have offically announced the phone but no the specs? whats that all about? why would they do that? Is the BT that bad in the E200? will the E200 get an upgrade to WM2003SE? Ta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest midnight Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 its normal to first announce a phone without specifications as for BT in E200, i dunno if its all that bad, but i do know theyve improved it, as for SE update for E200, i wouldnt hold your breath (it isnt a major update anyways, so i dont really see the need, and O wanna sell new phones :D) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest the loc-man Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 so when will the specs be announced then? I'm going away on Sat for 2 weeks, and what to get my upgrade straight away when I come back (been able to upgrade since May 24th-cant believe waited this long!?!?) I want to compare the C500 with the E200 and the MPx220 if it ever gets released, I dont wanna spend too much money so have to balance this with the choice, ie can get the E200 and maybe a free BT headser now on upgrade for nowt against the cost of these new phones cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest midnight Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 well, besides ram and processor speed all other specs we do have, we also know the processor type is the OMAP 730, which is twice the performance of the OMAP 710 at the same speed, so even if this phone was 132 mhz again its still much faster than the E200, but, I wouldnt be surprised to see them run it at a greater clock speed than 132mhz (between 166mhz and 200mhz would be my guess) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Monolithix [MVP] Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 I'd check back here when you get back. By then there may be a lot more info on release dates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zeta101 Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 gonna be interesting come july, but other than the c500 being nice and small, i cant see what it has that can compete with the mpx220 (especialyl since its seemed to have lost the fm radio)...the 220 will have a better type of processor and a vastly better camera, dont know where we stand with memory though. The c500 will have to be much cheaper on release if it wants to compete well imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest djfuego Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 :D Awww innit cute.. I want it :cry: Gimme gimme gimme Hey is there gonna be a compo to get a free one of theses ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest refnulf Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 cept for its size, I don't see much competition between the 220 and the c500. I don't like the shape of the phone, or the keypad. Just looks ugly to me. But I'd like to know more about the specs, looks aren't everything. What's definite is that it'll be way better than the e200 :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Brody Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 We have been provided with full specifications and box contents (and even the mini-SD card contents) officially from Orange at MS Mobile News! Click the link below to see the article... http://www.msmobilenews.com/?cid=532 :D Brody Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest manzonie08 Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 No radio FM on this Smartphone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jakob Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 No radio & low res. screen.. :-( But it makes it cheaper.. - and if radio was a part of earlier specs it might be a question of software :-) I doubt they would have done major hardwarechanges so close to the launch date.. Posted from my SmartPhone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kyrkesmith Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 Damn shame about the radio. Imo, a radio is about all the MS Smartphones are missing (apart from a TV tuner perhaps). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Croccy22 Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 Something bothers me about that joypad thing. just doesn't look like it's gonna work to well for gaming purposes. And considering in the specs they have listed java, you would have though they would have catered for this. However I might be wrong and it might work fine. Just doesn't look right! Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest midnight Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 just a few points i'd like to make about previous comments..... 1, The resolution is no surprise at all, i think most of us knew it was going to be 176 x 220 2, No FM radio doesnt surprise me either, personally i'd much rather play wma/mp3's anyway 3, This thing is tiny, and looking at pics of the MPx220, its much bigger than the MPx200 4, The processor types in the C500 and MPx220 are practically identical, of course no mhz figures have been mentioned for either yet. 5, You can almost guarantee the C500 will cost much less than the MPx220 Personally, at the moment this looks to be a pretty cool phone, yes there are a couple of things (be nice to have a better camera, but i dont use that much anyways, and of course there are doubts about that roller style joystick), but i dunno, i dont think its ugly... plain maybe, but people have been complaining for ages that the spv/e100/e200 have all been ugly and they'd rather have a plain looking nokia styled phone. Guess you cant please everyone :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest urabe Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 Another reason to hate my country!!!!! no orange! I still haven't 1 Microsoft Smartphone here YET!!! while u guys get to play with anything :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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