Orange to Launch Fixed Line Service for Businesses

Latest move in Orange becoming an integrated communications provider offers:

• Single bill for line rental and call charges

• Single point of contact for fixed and mobile customer support

• No minimum call charge and per-second billing

• Retention of existing landline number

• Discounted rates between Orange fixed and Orange mobile number ranges

• 10% discount on calls to 'Business Circle' numbers

Orange today announced the latest stage in its vision of offering communications whenever, wherever and however to its customers - the introduction of a fixed line service for small and medium-sized enterprises, the first to be offered in the UK by a mobile operator.

Orange Landline for Business will provide fixed services to existing and new Orange mobile business customers with a single point of customer service as well as call charges up to 20% less than BT. Customer Services will be provided by the dedicated Orange Business Solutions customer services team.

Orange Landline for Business will allow businesses to replace both their current landline rental and call services with a single Orange package, offering a range of voice bundles to cater to specific mobile, national and international needs. A single bill will be available for calls and line rental.

""Orange Landline for Business is the next step in Orange becoming the total communications provider. We are simplifying communications for our SME customers"" said Alastair MacLeod, Vice President Business Solutions, Orange UK.

MacLeod continued, ""By bringing together mobile and fixed services total spending for the customer will be reduced and, by working with just one supplier, the supply chain and service support models will be simplified. Customers will also be able to benefit from Orange's fantastic, award-winning dedicated business customer service for their fixed line services too.""

Orange is able to provide the service following Ofcom's Wholesale Line Rental programme, under which BT is obliged to allow operators to offer both line rental and calls to customers over its network.

Orange Landline for Business will offer no minimum call charge and per second billing along with a large range of monthly bundles to suit the needs of different sized companies and the nature of the calls they make. The service will include discounted rates for calls between Orange landlines and Orange mobile number ranges, as well as for calls to customers' top ten Business Circle landline numbers (customer nominated contacts). For customers joining the Orange Landline for Business before the end of June calls from Orange landlines to Orange mobile number ranges and to Business Circle numbers will be free for the first three months of the contract.

Customers can seamlessly transfer to Orange and have the opportunity to keep their existing phone numbers. The high-quality service will be underpinned by a Landline Performance Promise, replicating the assurance Orange already gives to its mobile customers.

• Orange Landline for business will not be available to sole traders or partnerships.

Alastair MacLeod, Vice President Business Solutions, Orange UK said:

""Orange Landline for Business is the next step in Orange becoming the total communications provider. We are simplifying communications for our SME customers""