Orange unveils FMC plan

Orange is launching a fixed-mobile convergence offer, called Unik or Unique, and aimed at providing a single phone handset for both mobile(GSM) and home fixed-line communications (using UMA technology). The service will start on Oct. 5 in France, on Oct 17 in The Netherlands, in Nov. in the UK, before the end of the year in Spain and in 2007 in Poland. For €10 a month, a French user would be able to place unlimited calls 24/7 from the mobile connected to the Livebox to fixed lines in France; and for €20 a month unlimited calls to Orange mobiles and fixed lines in France. Orange targets to sell Unik to 15% of its mobile users in 2 years and stabilize the churn. And effectively, the service is cheaper (than regular telephony) for Orange customers, but a non-Orange user calling a Unik line will be charge for a mobile phone call, rather for a fixed- line call.