We study different phenomenological aspects of compact, D = 4, N = 1 Type I
IB orientifolds considered as models for unification of the standard model
and gravity, We discuss the structure of the compactification, string and u
nification scales depending on the different possible D-brane configuration
s. It is emphasized that in the context of Type I models the M-W/M-Planck h
ierarchy problem is substantially alleviated and may be generated by geomet
rical factors. We obtain the effective low-energy supergravity Lagrangian a
nd derive the form of soft SUSY-breaking terms under the assumption of dila
ton/moduli dominance. We also discuss the role of anomalous U(1)'s and of t
wisted moduli in this class of theories. A novel mechanism based on the rol
e of singularities is suggested to achieve consistency with gauge coupling
unification in low string scale models. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All
rights reserved.