The company’s chief executive, Hans Snook, stated that “Orange
is putting into place the basis of an enormously powerful Internet
based platform capable of taking wire-free communications beyond
two dimensional voice and data into intelligent, interactive
responses to individual customer needs”.
The new initiative will comprise research and development wings
called ‘Orange Imagineering’ which will support technology start-up
projects.
Orange, which is the UK’s third-largest mobile phone service, is
also currently negotiating the possibility of entering into a deal
to give a fixed line operator access to its mobile phone network.
In return, Orange would take a share of any additional revenue
raised by the operator as a result of the transaction.
It also claims that through this arrangement it would “gain
reciprocal access to [the fixed line] network at wholesale rates,
accelerating the development of integrated solutions”. Orange has
not revealed the identity of the other parties involved in the
discussions.
