FT, Equant go Orange

As promised, France Telecom today united its global business communications services under the Orange Business Services brand, including both Equant and France Telecom operations.

The intention to come together under the Orange brand was announced last fall. The move creates a one-stop shop for business customers, including North American multinationals, to purchase Equant’s global IP communication and IT services, France Telecom’s enterprise communications services and Orange’s mobile service for businesses.

Within the U.S., the wireless service will be provided via Cingular’s network, through a previous agreement.

“Not only is it one brand which brings the power of Orange to the business market, but there is one product and service portfolio, with expanding capabilities, that will simplify things for our customers,” said Mack Treece, head of sales and marketing for Orange Business Services in the Americas. “For wireline, wireless service, whether it be in the IT world or the telecoms world, there is one account team, one operations team. We’re the only company out there with the assets under one management team for the business sector to make that happen.”

One immediate benefit is the availability of Business Everywhere, a service that combines multiple access technologies including DSL, dial-up data, cellular and Wi-Fi, under a single bill with one point of service. Initially available in 16 European nations, it is available in the U.S., without a cellular option, Treece said. That will be added soon.

“This is absolutely making the lives of IT people very happy,” he said.

Soon to come is a wireless-wireline convergence service using dual-mode Wi-Fi/cellular phones that migrate from one wireless network to another, depending on the user location. That service is in beta right now, Treece said.

Orange Business Services is also launching unified service management for existing multinational customers and a new project management service as well.

Advertising of the new brand has begun, Treece added.