Welcome to the November edition of the Orange Partner newsletter.

It was great to meet so many of you last month at CTIA and the Symbian Smartphone Show and we really saw some fantastic mobile applications from many of you. Don't forget to submit them to us (if you haven't already done so) for inclusion in the Application Shop.

Plus, this month (for a limited time only) all mobile applications submitted to us can be fast-tracked through the usual Orange Partner submission process, so read on to find out how.

In this edition to coincide with the start of our European 'Mash-up and develop with Orange' tour we've provided you with an article specifically focused on widgets and the commercial potential they hold for you. Take a look and if you're interested in finding out more, then register to attend either the Paris or Madrid events.

Fast-track your apps – go to market with Orange
Fast-tracked submissions will be accepted from 5th November to 30th November 2007.

For a limited period only we're offering you the opportunity to fast-track your downloadable mobile application into the Orange Application Shop.

This is your opportunity to go to market with Orange (in a matter of weeks).

What's the cost to you? Just 5 minutes of your time.

Provide us with a quick summary of your application. We'll review it and if we think it will sell, we'll speed you through our usual submission process and if necessary help you with your industry standard and Orange Compatibility testing.

In just a few short weeks your application could be available to over 15 million Orange customers in the UK alone.

All submissions will receive a response within five working days.

Oh, and we'll be awarding prizes to the best applications that have been submitted to us.

Submit your details now >

If you need to be reminded about the benefits of the Application Shop take a look at the new section on our website >

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Porting open source applications to Symbian smartphones? Get resources to help you
Download the presentation, Q&As and 'Using Symbian OS P.I.P.S' booklet from the recent virtual seminar.

Over 80 of you from across the globe joined us for this hugely popular virtual seminar.

The resources from the seminar are now available on the website for you to view and download.

Take a look at the presentation and understand the plans from Symbian for v9.5 and beyond, what they're doing to help ISVs make mobile applications better and easier to develop and learn how can you port an application using P.I.P.S.

Also available to you are the numerous questions from the seminar along with the answers.

View and download now >

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Developing a product suitable for the Orange Livebox? Submit your ideas and products now
If you've got an innovative, unique idea with potential value then submit it to the Livebox Lab programme

Orange Partner is working with the Livebox Lab programme to enable our members to learn more about the programme and to submit their ideas for partnering with Livebox.

The Livebox Lab is a programme by France Telecom Group allowing developers to develop solutions for partnering with the Livebox.

The Lab is a product and services development accelerator. It opens the door of France Telecom Group's home network through various Livebox services.

Developers are encouraged to submit ideas for the Livebox and in return the lab offers development tools, technical support and marketing expertise.

Find out more about the Livebox Lab programme >

Also, if you're based in France and you'd like to participate in the next Broadband Thursday event (hosted by our Livebox Lab colleagues), taking place on 22nd November 2007, then find out more and register here >

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Why partner with France Telecom / Orange Group? See our 3rd quarter financial results
Just published – our 3rd quarter results of 2007 show a 3.5% revenue rise year-on-year on a comparable basis.

The 3rd quarter revenues were higher than the rest of 2007 primarily due to the improved business in mature Western European markets in which revenues rose 1.9%.

At the same time we've continued to grow rapidly in markets with high-growth potential at a pace similar to that in the previous two quarters with revenues up 14.7%.

Overall the three business segments saw improvements. In particular the Personal Communication Services (mobile) segment was very dynamic. This was due to a larger number of new customers acquired and faster growth in data a services driven by the growth of non-messaging data services.

On a comparable basis revenues from Personal Communication Services rose 6.0%.

Get the breakdown of the results by business segments, country and much more - download the press release now >

Interested in being part of our family? Find out how to reach our consumer and business markets.

Also, if you have a downloadable mobile application that you'd like to sell direct to Orange customers -
find out more about the Application Shop>

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Download article – The widget: a small gadget with great potential
Read through this article by Orange Badim to find out how widgets are being used to revolutionise personalised content for the desktop, mobile, TV, as interactive and CRM tools, plus what operators are doing in this space.

8.50am, Peter arrives as the office. After booting up his computer. Two clicks bring up a range of pre-selected information: a calendar, CNN news, a train timetable…without having to use his browser.
Peter has activated the 'widgets' on his screen: small, intuitive applications that provide instant personalised access to his chosen services.

Widgets are new communication formats that are being pushed by many industry players, and are now beginning to flood the market.

They simplify daily access to content by requiring just a few clicks to access services and offer more possibilities for personalisation. When it comes to 2.0 services, users want practical interfaces providing free access to their favourite content or even to create their own environment.

Widgets are a means of achieving this. Apple* initially popularised them for computer desktops then they colonised websites and now the small army of 'wise gadgets' is advancing still further. They've been adopted by Microsoft in Vista (the latest version of Windows) and they've also gained a gradual acceptance in the mobile world and TV.

There is great potential in widgets, particularly for major brands, advertisers and those in the audiovisual world, which see them as a new medium and possible vector for advertising. All these players appear determined to become involved.

Download the full article and find out how widgets are being used on the desktop, mobile and TV, understand the value chain and the opportunities for you.

Download now >

If you are interested in learning how to develop widgets then join us at one of our 'Mash-up and develop with Orange' events in Paris or Madrid. Find out more >

* with the exception of several low key initiatives. Apple was the first to launch the MACOS10 Tiger to the public in 2005, introducing the 'Dashboard' a desktop with several widgets.

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Almost 160 million W-CDMA customers worldwide – find out which countries are the new stars of 3G
Take a look at this report compiled by Orange Badim and find out which countries have the highest growth of W-CDMA customers.

With nearly 40 million new customers over the past two quarters, W-CDMA subscribers around the world almost reached the 160 million mark in September, i.e. twice as many as 14 months ago.

Japan, Italy and the UK alone have half the world's number of users, with 50 million, 20 million and 11 million respectively.

Despite a more sustained net growth than in 2006, Japan and Western Europe are seeing their share diminish in favour of other zones, which now represent nearly one in every five customers around the world, compared to one in ten a year ago.

Find out which three countries this strong growth is attributed to >

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Mobile: the latest trend in instant messaging - find out why
Read through this report compiled by Orange Badim and see the latest trends in Instant Messaging.

87% of Europeans aged between 15-24 regularly use instant messaging. Within this age bracket, the heaviest users are aged between 15-17 (90%).

With 48% of young French and Spanish people and 47% of young Italians wanting to see instant messaging on their mobile phone, the customer need has been clearly identified. What's more, users are prepared to pay for it.

Read the full article and find out what billing options users would prefer and who the IM market leader is >

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Download article - 'Mobile Television: time to choose'
This comprehensive report compiled by Orange Badim takes a look at the mobile television market.

When mobile television was first launched, operators favoured mobile networks. They had the advantage of being pre-existing structures, with largely controlled costs, opposite a fledgling broadcast technology, driven by manufacturers and satellite broadcasters.

Since then, the operators' position has changed somewhat, in the light of successful new tests, most of them begun in 2005. Nonetheless, today only a minority of them led to actual commercial launches around the world, mostly in Japan and Korea.

There are two major options for mobile television service distribution; the unicast solution (which uses the mobile network) or the broadcast solution (based on a land and/or satellite network).

The broadcast solution is based on around half a dozen technologies, all competing with one and another with predominance being determined by the region.

Read the full article to find about the successes, the debates and uncertainties, the technology, the role of operators, channels and broadcasters and lastly the business models – download now >

To download this article you must be a premium member of the Orange Partner programme.
Apply for premium membership now (premium membership is free) >

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'Mash-up and develop with Orange' – kicking-off today in Chiswick
The European tour starts today in London (Chiswick) and the Madrid event date has moved to 2008

Join us to find out about what Orange is doing in the world of Web 2.0 from a commercial and technical perspective.

If you're interested in the commercial opportunities of developing mash-ups and widgets, we've extended the afternoon of the first day of each event, so you can discuss business opportunities face-to-face with key decision makers from Orange and the France Telecom Group.

Technical attendees will get stuck-in to development and coding in the afternoon of the first day and continue into day two.

On-hand to provide hints and tips, advice and feedback will be technical representatives from the Bubbletop, Pikeo and design and usability teams.

Remember there are fantastic prizes to be won for the best coders.

If you can't attend one of the events this year, you can now register for the Madrid event which has been moved to 29 – 30 January 2008.

If you're interested in attending the events in France or Spain – find out more and register now >

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Seminar: 'Orange Partner programme in China' - Friday 16th November 2007
Beijing, China

If you're a developer, researcher, blogger or entrepreneur based in China, involved in the design and delivery of mobile applications then don't miss this seminar hosted by Orange Partner in China – an opportunity to find out about…

• The contribution of Orange Labs, Beijing to the Orange Partner programme.
  An introduction to Orange Labs, Beijing; its main function and contribution to the Orange Partner programme.
• The mobile industry in China.
  An introduction to the mobile market and the requirements of mobile applications set by China Mobile and China Unicom – with a specific look at the mobile applications market.
• Success stories:
  You'll be provided with some success stories of companies that have gained commercial value through the Orange Partner programme.

In the afternoon you'll have the opportunity to participate in the "Interactive Platform". Inspired by the global trend of Barcamps each of you will be able to share your mobile products with other attendees.

Demo your products and get together to discuss the future of the mobile application space.

Find out more and register now >

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CTIA in San Francisco – see the photos and the winners of the best apps
Two weeks ago at CTIA the Orange Partner 'shop doors' were whizzing and our 'shop' otherwise known as the Orange stand was buzzing.

We met tonnes of you there and it was good to catch up. For the 'newbies' to the programme – welcome!

You may have guessed from the huge hints that this year's focus was on talking to as many of you as possible about our Application Shop.

We talked you through the steps to take to get download mobile applications commercialised with us, we looked at your applications, provided advice and feedback and generally caught up with lots of familiar faces.

For those of you who were (and weren't) there the photos from the event, the highly talked about party and details of the winners of the 'best applications' and prize draws are available on our website.

Take a look now >

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