Orange Tahiti Android tablet rolls out in the UK - £69.99 on contract

Orange has thrown down the gauntlet to other mobile providers, launching the first tablet branded by a mobile network in Britain.

The Orange Tahiti is set to appear in Orange stores later this week. Sporting a 7-inch multi-touch display, and a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor, this mid-range tablet falls into the same category as Samsung's pocket-filling Galaxy Tab.

Weighing 390g, this diminutive slate runs Android Honeycomb, and comes with the usual selection of apps along with pre-installed operator offerings like Orange Wednesday.

The unit features a 5-megapixel camera on its rear, and wireless functionality, including wi-fi, Bluetooth, AGPS, and a 3G+ connection.

If you want to get your hands on the Tahiti, you will have to part with £69.99 for the tablet, and sign up to a £25 a month data plan for no fewer than 24 months.

That contract will give you 1GB of anytime data, 1GB of quiet time data (for off-peak daytime browsing), and unlimited wi-fii hotspot data.

If you're currently in the market for a new mobile handset, however, you can get the Tahiti for free when you purchase the Orange San Francisco II handset on a £41 / month price plan.

This Connected plan gives you 2GB of anytime data to use across both devices, 200 minutes, and unlimited texts.

While the unit itself is extremely cheap, it will be interesting to see whether punters are willing to purchase a tablet with a monthly bill attached when there are so many toll-free alternatives on the market, especially one running an older version of Android than its upcoming competitors.