Orange to offer Android phone this summer, with Intel Inside

Intel, the company whose processors can be found inside 80% of the world's desktop computers and laptrops, is going after another market, this one more in demand by consumers. According to Reuters, this summer France Telecom's Orange mobile carrier subsidiary will be launching an Android powered smartphone in France and in the U.K. that will have Intel Inside. Orange has picked Taiwan-based Gigabyte to manufacture the device which will feature some of the carrier's proprietary software running on top of the Android OS.

Reference model of Intel powered smartphone displayed at CES

The model will be an entry-level handset designed for Orange's pre-paid customers, and is a duplicate for a reference model made by Intel to showoff its Medfeild processor for the smartphone market. The unit features HD video and an 8MP camera. Intel says that the Medfield processor stands up to the processors made by the competition in terms of power efficiency and performance. Last month, Intel displayed that reference unit at the CES and said that Motorola and Lenovo will have upcoming models with Intel Inside. Intel's Mike Bell, co-head of the firm's mobile and wireless business and who is responsible for creating the reference phone, told Reuters, "This is a really big deal for us., It's phenomenal that Orange has asked us to participate and put our Intel logo on the back."

About two weeks ago, a rendering was leaked of a Motorola phone that is the manufacturer's first to be powered by Android 4.0. At the same time, the device is expected to have an Intel processor under the hood, which is alleged to have an instant-on camera. We will be on the look-out for the unit which is expected to rear its head out in Barcelona.

source: Reuters