Orange recommences smartphone offensive

Orange today detailed a new version of its SPV smartphone, featuring Bluetooth support and an integrated digital camera.

Available next month, the handset will be the first to ship with the Smartphone 2003 version of Microsoft's Windows Mobile software, according to the manufacturer.

"Two key features customers told us they wanted in the SPV were Bluetooth and a camera," said Stuart Jackson, global communications manager at Orange.

Bluetooth support only covers wireless headsets at present, but Jackson added that this will be updated in the future.

The SPV E200 is Orange's third version since it introduced the first Windows-powered smartphone last October.

All offer access to email and web browsing via Orange's GPRS network, and also store contact and calendar information.

The new model has the larger keys and improved display of the SPV E100, introduced earlier this year, but is otherwise similar in style to the original SPV.

The weight remains at 120g and Orange still quotes the battery life at three to four hours of use and up to three days on standby.

Simeon Payne, Microsoft's UK marketing manager for Windows Mobile, claimed that the latest version of the software offered a number of improvements, including a general increase in speed.

"We've made the user interface more intuitive, and owners can now access their personal email as well as corporate email accounts," he said.

Smartphone 2002 only allowed access to a single email account.

Other changes include support for Microsoft's .Net Compact Framework, allowing developers to write applications and services to run on Windows smartphones.

Pocket Outlook now supports push delivery of email from Exchange 2003 groupware servers, and Pocket Internet Explorer has been updated to better render websites on handset screens, according to Payne.

Orange said that the SPV E200 will cost under £200 with a contract.