Orange launches mobile app shop

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Orange is taking on the stiff competition of big mobile manufacturers by launching its own application store.

Simply called the Orange App Shop, it will initially be available to customers in the UK and France before being rolled out to other countries throughout 2010.

Yves Tyrode, executive vice president of Orange Technocentre, said in a statement: “We are giving customers a tailor-made shop window on the mobile that makes it easier to discover, download, use and manage content.”

“Whether it’s a smartphone user, or someone using a simpler device, we know the demand for content is there – it’s just about getting that experience right.”

The shop will have to provide for a variety of platforms so Orange has confirmed it is working with developers and manufacturers to cover applications compatible with Java, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Mobile.

Notably missing from the list however was iPhone apps from Apple, which has the largest and most popular app store of all its competitors.

We asked a spokesperson from Orange whether they would be providing iPhone apps in the future now the company is selling the device in the UK, but he was unable to confirm it, saying the listed platforms were all that was available for now.

Orange devices being sold from January will have the shop built into the homescreen, enabling one click access to over 5,000 apps, games, ringtones and wall-paper and this number will continue to expand as they get more developers on board.

To view a video of what the app shop will look like click here.

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