Orange, BIC team up to launch the simple BIC phone in France
Posted by Dusan on Monday, July 14th, 2008 at 9:24 am under Alcatel, Announcements, Devices, Orange
Orange has teamed up with BIC to launch the easy-to-use, ready-to-go BIC phone. Manufactured by TCL (Alcatel), the entry-level device comes with 60 free minutes, the battery charged, and the SIM card already in place. Once you spend the free minutes, refilling is done using prepaid cards called “mobicarte.”
The idea seems to reach those users that don’t care about high-end features of today’s smartphones, but rather prefer simple phone for texting and calling. Additionally, the France Telecom owned mobile operator may push the device towards a large number of tourists, who in most cases just need a cheap solution to stay in touch while visiting France.
That being said, the two companies will push the BIC phone through over the counter channels, major supermarkets and local convenience stores. Starting from August, 7th, BIC phone will be available in citrus orange and lime green in metropolitan France for 49 EUR with all the taxes.
[Via: Engadget Mobile]




Alcatel is looking to bring hardware to the US through O2 Wireless (not to be confused with O2 in the UK). The Alcatel E206a will be offered as a super-basic (read: cheap), dual-band GSM handset. The Alcatel E206a doesn’t offer Bluetooth or even GPRS (let alone EDGE) data services, and is aimed at the entry-level market. In fact, the Alcatel E206a’s spec-sheet is devoid of much more than basic voice calling functionality.
CTIA Las Vegas 2008 is slow, at least from a hardware/handset perspective. There haven’t been many new announcements and even less new hardware on display. Still, some of CTIA’s exhibitors really know how to entertain. Take Alcatel, for example.
Following on MetroPCS’s successful launch in the c
Being completely mobile endows a sense of freedom that no cubicle can match. There’s nothing like traveling all over the place with a wireless data connection ready to do your bidding. That is, until you get jacked for your laptop. The one problem with rocking the mobile warrior lifestyle is that you have to essentially make your portable device your main rig - which means that your hard drive, full of sensitive data, is up for grabs whenever you take your eyes off your laptop.
Lately, we’ve spotted Alcatel’s basic phone OT-E221 which lets users take and make phone calls, use text messaging service, and… that’s it. Features like built-in camera and a media player, which we take for granted nowadays, are just not there. However, the price is there — this baby costs mere £14.99 (roughly $30) and will be available in four different colors — hot pink, black, glossy blue and vibrant orange — from Woolworths this September.

