NeoRetro: landline phones go back to the future

Paris, Monday, June 22, 2015

• Orange’s designers, revisiting the style of the 1930s, have designed NeoRetro, a timeless landline telephone incorporating today’s latest technology
• A collaborative approach with Europe’s first crowdfunding site Ulule to become a player in NeoRetro's development

Truly an everyday object, the landline telephone was one of the greatest influences of the 20th century, and is installed in millions of households, leaving a lasting impression for many. Inspired by the style of the 1930s, Orange's designers have created a new telephone that combines modern technology, functions and materials. Today, Orange is unveiling its NeoRetro prototype and is offering the general public an original and innovative opportunity to get hold of one: the phone will only be manufactured if it captures the public's interest, which will be gauged using Ulule, Europe's first crowdfunding platform.

NeoRetro: a 1930s design with a contemporary experience

Orange's designers wanted to put the landline back in the spotlight and worked extensively on the telephone's design. In addition to working on the aesthetics of NeoRetro, they took a comprehensive approach to harmonise its retro look with carefully designed interfaces and high quality sound. The NeoRetro comes with an additional receiver that enables another person not only to listen to a call but also to contribute to it thanks to the built-in microphone. Using remote sensing, it automatically transforms into a speaker when it is put down. The characteristic 1930s rotary dial is back, but has been reworked to fit in with the habits of today: the numbers are dialled using tactile buttons.

NeoRetro is a universal telephone - it works in all the countries in the European Union as well as in the United States and in Canada - and simply connects to the traditional fixed phone line or an internet box.

Become a player in NeoRetro's development via Ulule

For the first time, Orange chose to implement a participative approach to register the public's interest in NeoRetro before it manufactures and sells the phone on a larger scale.

For 30 days, starting on 22 June 2015, Orange is opening a campaign for pre-orders on Ulule, www.ulule.com/neoretro. Orange has set a target of 500 contributions to trigger the start of production. Contributors who support the project on Ulule will enjoy a special price (between €99 and €109 including tax, excluding delivery fees) and the first 200 will receive a limited edition of the telephone. Pre-orders are now available in all the countries in the European Union as well as in the United States and in Canada.

If the campaign achieves its objective of 500 supporters, the telephones will be delivered in the first half of 2016 - contributors will receive theirs first - and then sold through Orange's distribution network at a target price of €139 including tax. Over the course of the development and industrialisation phase, contributors will also be given regular exclusive updates on the project's progress and will be able to see the telephone at all stages of production.

Discover the crowdfunding campaign on Ulule www.ulule.com/neoretro Follow NeoRetro on Twitter #Neoretro Download the visuals for NeoRetro mediacenter.orange.com/en/mediacenter

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