France Télécom / Orange Exec Confirms Apple Tablet Is On The Way

2010/01/11

Apple is doing a fine job keeping shush about the tablet computer it has been working on for several years and which is due to be announced later this month in California.

Apple iPhone prices , reviews اسعار اى فون

But just in case anyone was still in doubt about its imminent launch, France Télécom / Orange executive Stéphane Richard this morning confirmed on air that the device is to debut in the ‘next couple of days’.

Richard, number two at the telecommunication services giant, told French journalist Jean-Pierre Elkabbach that the tablet would soon make its entry into the market, and that it will be equipped with a webcam (gasp!).

Apple iPhone prices , reviews اسعار اى فون

Here’s how the relevant part of the conversation went:

Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: Selon Le Point … l’hebdomadaire Le Point, dans quelques jours votre partenaire Apple va lancer une tablette …
Stéphane Richard: Oui.
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: … dotée d’une webcam.
Stéphane Richard: Oui.
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: Est-ce que les usagers d’Orange en bénéficieront aussi?
Stéphane Richard: Bien sûr!

Which translates to:

Apple iPhone prices , reviews اسعار اى فون

Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: According to weekly Le Point, in a couple of days Apple will be launching its tablet computer …
Stéphane Richard: Yes.
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: … equipped with a webcam.
Stéphane Richard: Yes.
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: Are Orange customers going to be able to enjoy it?
Stéphane Richard: Of course!

For your reference: France Télécom is one of the world’s largest telecommunication services companies. The company owns Orange Group, the fifth largest telecom operator on the planet and primarily active in Europe and Africa.

France Télécom, through its Orange subsidiary, currently offers the iPhone in some 28 countries and territories. In September 2009, Orange UK announced that it had reached an agreement with Apple to bring iPhone 3G and 3GS to Orange UK customers, bringing an end to the two-year exclusive agreement between Apple and O2.

Apple iPhone prices , reviews اسعار اى فون

In short, it’s an Apple partner whose management would be aware of plans to bring its new tablet computer to market. Anyone still in doubt over its existence?