The public beta will be launched on 8 December and will go on for around a year. There is a three-year roadmap for development, although the direction the evolution takes will be heavily weighted towards user feedback, Orange said.
"[We wanted] to work out how we can make sense of this open communications environment and yet stay close to those who matter. We're calling it ON," said Corbett.
"What we mean by open is the stuff you put into ON is yours not ours."
At launch, it will support Android with an iPhone version expected early next year. Orange will then look towards other operating systems such as Symbian and Windows Mobile, according to Constanza.
"[We wanted ON] to be fundamentally gracious. Help me respect others and help others respect me,'" added Corbett.
"If you went to someone's office, you tend to knock on the door before walking in. If you go to somebody's house you ring the doorbell. Yet, if we're ring someone we just do it."
As for how ON will evolve longer term, Corbett is enthusiastically in the dark.
The important thing to remember here is there are just a whole bunch of things that we don't know," he said.
"There will be a level of experience for my parents that will be different to the experience of my son. And that will be different to the experience I have."
-
Asus ZenScreen Fold OLED MQ17QH reviewReviews A stunning foldable 17.3in OLED display – but it's too expensive to be anything more than a thrilling tech demo
-
How the UK MoJ achieved secure networks for prisons and offices with Palo Alto NetworksCase study Adopting zero trust is a necessity when your own users are trying to launch cyber attacks
-
Orange to land Medusa submarine cable in Marseille to boost Mediterranean connectivityNews The French telco will provide one of the 16 landing points the Medusa cable will connect to around the Mediterranean
-
TalkTalk leads Ofcom's list of most complained about telcosNews BT takes top spot for broadband complaints
-
Everything Everywhere unveils management restructureNews The mobile firm has outlined management changes under the leadership of its new chief executive.
-
Everything Everywhere CEO resignsNews Tom Alexander steps down after just over a year in charge of Everything Everywhere.
-
Everything Everywhere revenues edge upNews The mobile merger is happy with small revenue growth during tough economic times.
-
Everything Everywhere reports mixed debut resultsNews Revenues and pre-pay customers drop in numbers but contracts are on the rise for the joint venture.
-
Worldwide operators collaborate on NFCNews Vodafone and Orange are amongst those to pledge their commitment to Near Field Communications technology by 2012 but the GSMA can't reveal where.
-
MWC 2011: Everything Everywhere merger ‘good for UK economy’News The chief financial officer of the Orange and T-Mobile joint venture claims it will serve the UK economy well.
