30 replies to this topic

[flibblesan]

Orange has had a lot of success in the Android marketplace with it's own branded devices. Since the launch of the Orange San Francisco it has made a big name for itself and helped the manufacturer ZTE become well known to consumers in the UK. Whilst the Orange Monte Carlo wasn't as well received as the San Francisco, Orange are hoping that users will take to it's upcoming device the San Francisco II. Based upon the ZTE Crescent, the San Francisco II is aimed at the budget market providing decent hardware specifications for a low price.

Whilst the price isn't known, what we do know is that the phone will be shipped running Android 2.3 and running on an 800MHz CPU - possibly a Qualcomm powered MSM7227 chip.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
  
• Camera: 5 Megapixel
  
• Display: 3.5inch 800x480 WVGA TFT, 262k colours
  
• Memory: 512MB
  
• CPU: 800MHz (possibly MSM7227)

Will this device be as popular as the San Francisco was and will Orange & ZTE have another hit on their hands?

Orange leaked information about the device onto it's help & support section, possibly in time for a Christmas release (screenshot after the break!)




Source: Orange

This item was promoted to the News page - click here to view.

[Sami Beck]

Looks pretty bland.

[Amit.V]

I don't get it. it's alomost the same as the blade/1st san francisco. only difference is that the processor is a bit stronger. i would expect a 4 inch screen and a 1ghz processor. in the meantime i'm happy with my beloved blade.

[PaulOBrien]

Pricing is everything on this one! Wonder what it'll come in at?

P

[AlphaVision]

The specs are 1:1 with the Monte Carlo, but with a worse screen (256K colors). What's the big deal about that phone anyway?

[Amit.V]

Paul, it's true, but i would expect it to be better than the blade which is more than a year old. I'ts eternity in the smartphones world.

[wakaru]

Judging by the pictures it seems to have a front facing camera as well. Don't you think?

[zomgbugs]

Disappointing.... well, depends on whether the price range will be between the osf and the mc.

[domenico lamberti]

i hope it seems to be a FFC, for me that is the only thing missing from my blade that i really want, i mean sure if i had the money i would buy an SGS 2, but for a budget conscious student, this would be great, like the first blade was

[Aurimas L.]

ARMv6...

[Sebastian404]

This is not an upgrade, it's just replacing the existing san fransisco with a simular model in the range, if you want a 'better' phone there's the Monte Carlo.

We are not Oranges target market.  They are looking for people who want to call thier mates and play angry birds, as cheaply as possible..

If ford announce a new model mondeo, you'd not be expecting it to faster and bigger than the last..  And that's what this is really...

[Amit.V]

Sebastian - the monte carlo isn't much better. only a bigger screen. the processor is still not much faster.

[Amit.V]

and the fact that it's not a big hit in sales is a big con.not enough users = not enough rom options.

[Roph]

Pathetic =/

[Sere83]

lol, these ZTE Orange phones are officially dead to me. A year ago or more the Original San Fran was a good deal for the price.

However, this new San Fran and the Monte Carlo are just full to the brim with compile FAIL. ARMv6 at this price or the price of the Monte Carlo are both a rip if you ask me. How long have ARMv7 chips been out now? Given ZTE's astronomical quantities of scale they still can't manage to get one in either this or the Monte Carlo?

Complete Nonsense.

[JudasLucifer]

I did find this a while ago http://android.modac...an-fransisco-2/

Orange have taken down that webpage since, (I just checked today)

I'm surprised that they aren't trying to get in an xmas release, time is ticking...

[JudasLucifer]

Also worth noting that on a hardware level, when you looked through the Online manuals, underneath the rear casing, it is very similar to the Blade. I'd assume its primarily made harder to unlock by Orange so they get more income there, the improvements are probably an attempt to move current Blade users away from their unlocked handsets (the naming would also apply here)

Edited by Mushroom_Lord, 12 November 2011 - 03:53 PM.

[dibbles]

Too little and too late

[Voxpop2011]

"... Whilst the Orange Monte Carlo wasn't as well received as the San  Francisco, Orange are hoping that users will take to it's upcoming  device the San Francisco II."  

I find this surprising as the reviews were mostly positive and the price drop from £149 (plus £10 top up) to £119 should have made it a big seller.  I have a Monte Carlo, which I use as a weekend alternative to my iPhone 4.  I like the big handset and the screen is quite responsive, albeit that tapping does not always register first time.  I have managed to set up my POP email account and it makes and receives call as well as getting online.  The only thing I don't like is the HIDEOUS Orange interface and the pointless apps that have been pre-installed and require root to remove.

[tilal6991]

I also don't get the slandering of the Monte Carlo - if you have a look at the Orange website you'll see that it's the 3rd biggest seller after 2 iPhones.