Apple Tablet Confirmed by French Carrier Orange

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It wouldn't be Monday without some new rumor about the Apple tablet.

The industry is fairly certain that Apple will launch a tablet later this month. However, details are scant and the blogosphere is in take-anything-you-can-get mode, so hearing a high up executive from Orange France confirmed the tablet's existence, launch and its availability on his network definitely counts for something.

Stéphane Richard morning confirmed the device during an interview with French journalist Jean-Pierre Elkabbach. French blog nowhereelse.fr reports that Elkabbach mentioned the Apple tablet to Richard and Richard told him that yes, the tablet would be available for Orange customers to enjoy.

Via the BBC:

Elkabbach: Selon l'hebdomadaire Le Point, dans quelques jours, votre partenaire Apple va lancer une tablette dotee d'une webcam?Richard: Oui.Elkabbach: Est-ce que les usagers d'Orange en beneficieront aussi?Richard: Bien sur!Which translates as:Elkabbach: According to the weekly newspaper Le Point, in a few days your partners at Apple will launch a tablet equipped with a webcam?Richard: Yes.Elkabbach: Will Orange customers get to use it?Richard: Of course!

The news lends weight to previous rumors that say Apple could offer its tablet through Verizon Wireless here in the United States.

Those of you who speak french can watch the full interview with Stéphane Richard here. Skip forward to about 6:00 minutes in for the quotes above.

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Jane McEntegart
19 Comments Comment from the forums
  • wildwell
    ^^^ Agreed. I'm looking forward to January 27th just to be done with the rumors!!! Somehow though, I keep clicking on them.
    Reply
  • sunflier
    American: Qui diable est Orange France? Pourquoi dois-je entretenir à propos de Orange France? Qu'est-ce que Orange France. Et, pourquoi est Apple lance le présent en France?
    Apple sucks oranges!!

    Which translates as:Who the heck is Orange France? Why do I care about Orange France? What is Orange France. And, Why is Apple launching this in France?
    Apple sucks oranges!!
    Reply
  • xtc28
    I want it now! wow wow wow!!!
    Reply
  • Vestin
    I always thought "apples to oranges" was "doing it wrong"...
    Reply
  • aracheb
    sunflierAmerican: Qui diable est Orange France? Pourquoi dois-je entretenir à propos de Orange France? Qu'est-ce que Orange France. Et, pourquoi est Apple lance le présent en France?Apple sucks oranges!!Which translates as:Who the heck is Orange France? Why do I care about Orange France? What is Orange France. And, Why is Apple launching this in France?Apple sucks oranges!!
    Well Orange France is no more than "France telecom" and they own somewhat from 37 to 65 % of your beloved t-mobile right now.. recently they merged with deutche telekom. So if it gonna be available for france telekom (GSM) i doubt it will available for At&t
    Reply
  • mfarrukh
    Can't wait
    Can't wait
    Can't wait
    Reply
  • zak_mckraken
    @sunflier : Google translation fail.
    Reply
  • cknobman
    Why the f_ck are all the rumored tablets being tied to wireless carriers? Cant we just have a tablet without attempting to suck us into an overpriced, slow, contractual obligated agreement to some greedy sh_thole wireless carrier?
    Reply
  • Honis
    I'm looking forward to the release just so that these damn "Someone sneezed and it sounded like tablet" rumor articles will go way (I'm sure the "omg new app!" will fill the gap though).
    Reply
  • huron
    I agree cknobman - I realize the carriers want to get them to us "cheap" and pay for the subsidized units through high data fees, but what about people that don't need 3G access and just want it to replace laptop/e-reader, etc?

    I'm looking forward to this because I think it could be interesting, but just as much so I don't have to keep hearing the news rumors about it.
    Reply