CANNES, France-Wireless operator Orange released sales figures and details about its business-oriented SPV device-the first wireless device to use Microsoft Corp.’s Smartphone operating system-and announced plans to offer a modified SPV aimed at consumers.
Orange said it has sold 40,000 of its SPVs since it first launched the device in November. The carrier said most of those SPV users are business professionals. In order to attract a wider user base, Orange said it is redesigning the device’s keyboard layout, screen and menu layout to appeal to more shoppers. The redesigned device, which Orange is calling the SPVx, will be available in April in the United Kingdom, France, Denmark and Switzerland. Orange said it will continue to sell and support the original SPV.
Further, Orange said it conducted a survey of its SPV users and found that 88 percent of customers rate their SPV ease of use “better than OK,” and that almost 50 percent of SPV customers use multimedia messaging services.
The Microsoft-based device is notable on a number of levels since Microsoft is embroiled in a lawsuit with former Smartphone partner Sendo, and is competing with Nokia Corp. and Symbian over the market for high-end mobile phone operating systems.
