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1st March 2000

Cambridge Consultants works with Orange to design world's first GSM mobile videophone

Cambridge Consultants Limited gives technical leadership to development of Orange's mobile video communication product

Cambridge Consultants Limited (CCL) is working with Orange, the UK's most advanced digital mobile phone network, to develop the world's first GSM mobile videophone. CCL is undertaking the overall technical design element of the project, which will come to fruition later this year when the phones come onto the market.

The Orange videophone is a palm-held device providing full video and audio communication capabilities, as well as combining the functionality of a complete PDA, with email access and Internet browsing.

CCL is bringing technical leadership and consultancy to the development of the Orange product, and is working with Orange and other organisations to implement Orange's vision of a wirefree future.

"Orange's device is leading a new wave of mobile products in which a range of voice, data and visual functions converge into one product. CCL is working with Orange to bring a range of complex technologies together in a single, simple, package. As with many of CCL's other projects, the key to designing a product of this nature will be in understanding human nature and how we interact with technology. We are entering a new development in the story of sound and vision communication," commented Claire Ruskin, Director of CCL.

The Orange videophone is a pioneering project. The technical design challenge lay in combining the varied technological specifications and functionality into a portable unit, while achieving the user-friendly aspect common to all of Orange's product and service offerings.

"Having talked to suppliers all around the world, we decided to design and build our own videophone handset. We were delighted to discover that most of the core competencies needed for the project were available within the UK. CCL, with their in-depth knowledge of the various technologies and issues crucial to this project, were best placed to lead us through the design phase," said Hans Snook, CEO of Orange.

The Orange project has tapped one of CCL's core areas of expertise: turning ideas into concept products and their development into manufacturable designs. CCL works on product design and development techniques for companies of all sizes, providing new ideas, new technologies, extra resource and faster turn-round. Its technical skills and resources cover many disciplines and industries and is complemented by a 28 year partnership with its parent company global consulting firm Arthur D. Little.

Other suppliers, Celestica, Motion Media, NMI and the University of Strathclyde, will bring the much-anticipated videophone, which breaks new frontiers in technology and design, to the manufacturing stage. The product will be aimed at both business and personal users.

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