Orange UK Touts New Look

LONDON -- Orange today achieves a historic milestone in UK communications, uniting mobile, fixed-line and broadband under one brand for both consumers and businesses, offering a one-stop-shop solution that will radically simplify how we communicate.

Customers of Wanadoo, Equant and Etrali – the internet and business-to-business arms of France Telecom – as well as Orange’s existing mobile base, will begin to enjoy the benefits of simple and convenient access to the most powerful combination of telecommunications services available in the UK, as the companies unite under the Orange brand.

In its first demonstration of integrated communications, information and entertainment services, Orange launched a new nationwide broadband service offering free internet access plus free calls from fixed-line to Orange mobile phones.

Today also marks the creation of Orange Business Services - a single banner for all of the group’s business communications services which builds on the strength of the Orange brand in business and reinforces its position in the global market. Business customers across 220 countries and territories will now benefit from one of the industry’s broadest product portfolios and a simplified customer experience.

The evolution of Orange from mobile company to total communications provider, is at the heart of France Telecom’s NExT strategy for integrated telecommunications, which will see the company use Orange as its flagship brand worldwide, supported by a major through-the-line marketing campaign across Europe.

Sanjiv Ahuja, Chief Executive Officer of Orange, said: "This is a great day for Orange, but more importantly, it's a great day for our customers. We're pioneering a new future in telecommunications as we become the only company in the UK to combine broadband, fixed-line and mobile communications simply, efficiently and seamlessly under a single brand. One brand, under one roof that speaks with one voice about total communications.

"Customers today want a seamless experience. They don’t care about the technology. And with the convergence of all the Group's services under the Orange brand, customers will be able to access all their information, communications and entertainment needs wherever, whenever and however they wish.”

Didier Lombard, Chairman and Chief Executive of France Telecom, added: “By bringing together the strengths and skills of Orange, Wanadoo, Equant and Etrali, uniting them under the Orange brand, we are continuing to deliver on our commitment to create a new world of open communications for our customers, a communications future that is based on simplicity and choice. Today our customers receive a first taste of how the new Orange will transform their communications experience, and this is just the beginning.”

Orange UK