France Télécom’s mobile arm Orange France has launched a new telephone which combines fixed line and mobile services along with the convenience of a low cost internet connection.
Dubbed Unik, the converged service handset – similar to models already launched by FT rivals Iliad and neuf Cegetel – allows the user to make free local and long-distance calls over the internet while at home, and then switches to being a mobile phone when they leave the house.
‘This creates one bill, one phone, one answering machine, one number,’ said Sanjiv Ahuja, Chief Executive of Orange at a press conference in Paris, Monday. The company hopes the new service will help it to reduce fixed line churn.