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Windows Live Messenger + Orange
Saturday, October 21, 2006

Since July 2005, Orange (biggest French telecom) has allied itself with Microsoft to bring the first Orange Messenger product to the market. This is the first test Europe-wide as Spain and the UK should follow shortly depending on the outcome here in France. The idea is to allow Orange mobile clients to access an adapted version of Windows Live Messenger (ex-MSN Messenger) with their cellular phones. The idea is interesting and yet I don’t see any use for it or why people would want to use it. First, a break-down:

PROs
1) You can chat with your MSN buddies anytime, from anywhere at the cost of an internet connection to Orange’s Live Messenger server.
2) You can chat with people that don’t have cell phones (low probability)

CONs
1) You get charged per minute for this service vs. Free on a computer
2) Chatting on a cell phone is way more complicated because typing on a phone pad is 3 times longer than typing something on a keyboard
3) ...

Need I go on? Why oh why are they bringing a messenger to cell phones. If the price were low or even free, then there is a slight chance that the extreme geeks would use this. However, this is not the case as the per minute cost of WAP connection via most cell phone plans is still quite expensive. As for those who have unlimited/pro plans, even if they can get connected for free, they might want to use this service if they’re on the bus and have really nothing else to do. And even so, it is probably more efficient and effective to just call your friends up or SMS them.

Those are my two cents.

I am really curious to know if there are any other phone companies in other countries that have a similar offer and how that has worked out. Please leave a comment if you have some feedback. Thanks!

Posted by: Nick in • IT / Technology
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