While it's easy to focus on US communications issues, there's activity going on in other parts of the world that I try to catch as well. Orange is a market leader that is always taking action to extend service offerings. Their research showed that small businesses tend to fall into a black hole when it comes to the services provided by telecoms providers, utility companies and banks. That's a problem worldwide as solution providers too often key on on the Fortune 500 overlook what I call the Unfortunate Five Million, the SMB market. Consumer markets and the enterprise segment get taken care of, but small businesses somehow get lost in the middle.

To redress the imbalance Orange is launching a range of simple tariffs that do away with the complex bundles and add-ons that in reality small businesses hardly use.

In the longer-term Orange is looking at developing converged services specifically for small businesses. Its research found that while small businesses want simple billing options, they’re also at the vanguard when it comes to experimenting with converged telecoms, such as combined mobile, fixed and internet services. 82 per cent use VPNs today and 57 per cent use VoIP, while handheld computers, mobile phones and broadband top the list of investment priorities for 2007, alongside VPNs and VoIP.

ORANGE PUTS SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS OWNERS IN CONTROL WITH THE LAUNCH OF THREE NEW TARIFFS
Tariffs tailored to suit a variety of businesses from sole traders to larger companies

Complements new business advisory service in major Orange high street shops around the country

London, 31 May 2007: Orange today announced a shake up of traditional mobile pricing models for business customers with the launch of three new tariffs designed specifically to address the communications needs of sole traders, small businesses (SoHos) and medium to larger enterprises. Recognising that every business has communications needs which are as unique as they are, the three new Orange tariffs - Orange Solo, Orange Venture and Orange Momentum - allow business customers to choose the best value services for their specific business requirements.

The communications packages are designed to complement the convergence of business and lifestyle that typically define the needs of small and medium enterprises (SME), while simultaneously offering the value for money that companies of all sizes desire.

Orange Solo is a tariff for people who work for themselves and includes everything you would expect from Orange with additional business benefits such as Orange Care which ensures lost, stolen or faulty handsets are replaced within 24 hours. It provides value on simple minute based plans at three price points of £30, £35 and £40 ranging from 400-800 minutes with fifty per cent extra minutes for those taking 24 month contracts. It also includes a promotional offer of free megabytes of data: 1Mb, 2Mb and 3Mb respectively for those business owners that wish to discover the benefits of mobile email and Internet. Recognising the importance of staying in touch with customers at all times Orange Solo additional promotions also include a choice of unlimited calls to landlines or unlimited texts

Orange Venture lets you make the most of your time at work and at home. It is aimed at small businesses, typically with 1-10 employees, and usually run by entrepreneurial owner managers that are always on the go, trying to juggle communication with customers, suppliers, cash-flow and above all their work / life balance. It is a simple minute based tariff with flat rate sharer fees and comes in seven price points with minute bundles ranging from 275 to 3,400 minutes. Orange Business Additions include unlimited calls between sharers and mid contract reviews. There is a three month promotional offer of unlimited off peak calls to landlines and Orange mobiles to help manage the work / life blur and 20% extra minutes for 18 month contracts and 40% extra minutes for 24 month contracts. Prices range from £28 to £165 per month.

Orange Momentum is a tariff aimed at larger businesses. These businesses typically need to be fast and adaptable so want a package that supports the dynamic work style of its various employees. In answer to this Orange Momentum is based on a simple minute based plan with nine price points for a closer tariff to calling pattern fit. Price points range from £155 for 2,500 minutes to £3,000 for 45,000 minutes. Orange Business Additions include unlimited calls and texts between sharers to allow colleagues to communicate freely. A three month promotional offer of up to 25% extra minutes or unlimited calls to other Orange mobiles is available on longer contracts.

“We recognise that Britain’s small and medium businesses are not a homogenous group and have developed a range of new tariffs to respond to their individual needs. Designed to span the work life blur faced by many small business owners we hope Orange Solo and Orange Venture can offer our customers a communications package that enables them to live life on their terms. We see Orange Momentum playing a key role in ensuring that larger enterprises are always connected and, regardless of staff calling patterns, are not hampered by cost,” says Martin Lyne, Director of Small Business, Orange UK.

This is the first of a range of new Orange products aimed at the small enterprise sector and will be supported by the launch of a range of add on workstyle bundles later in the year. As part of its commitment to the SME market, which accounts for nearly half (46.8%) of UK employment according to the Department of Trade and Industry, Orange has also launched a new business advisory service in major Orange high street shops around the country. Trained business advisers at these shops can consult with all manner of businesses on their current and future communication needs on a ‘drop in’ basis. Orange is further supporting SMEs through regional competitions in which winners receive £1,000 worth of free advertising space to help them promote their services to customers in their area.

More information about the tariffs is available at www.orange.co.uk/business/asyoulikeit/