Europe’s first Intel-based smartphone is to begin shipping exclusively to mobile network operator Orange’s customers in the UK on 6 June, and in France soon afterwards.

The Orange San Diego, first announced in February at the Mobile World Congress as the Orange Santa Clara, features NFC as standard and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The device includes an Intel Atom Z2460 processor, 1080p HD video recording, a 4.03-inch capacitive display and A-GPS.

The San Diego will be available for £199.99 (US$308) on Orange Pay As You Go or for free to customers who take a two year contract from £15.50 (US$24) a month before 25 July.

The launch of the handset “will be supported by a multi-million pound advertising campaign, featuring the Orange ninja creative which will commence in June,” says the operator. “The advertising campaign will feature across TV, outdoor, print and online”.

A video shows the device in action:

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