FT is also on the fixed-mobile convergence track

France Telecom has unveiled NExT (New Experience in Telecom services), a 3-year plan for the launch of a number of new services, such as integrated voice, messaging and video-telephony, and converged fixed and mobile service bundles. FT will also launch a single portal and a single customer support service. As part of the plan, Ft will extend the Orange brand to broadband services (and consequently, the Wanadoo brand will be abandoned). FT has made a deal with Microsoft on two major projects: bundled services and VoIP. On the first project, FT and Microsoft will develop a new platform, based on MS Connected Services Framework and Service Delivery Platforms (SDP). This will enable FT to generate complex services through a SOA architecture and Web Services. On the second project, FT and Microsoft will develop a range of VOIP phones: LivePhone, a WiFi phone for the home segment, and the Homezone, a fixed/ mobile GSM/WiFi VOIP terminal.

FT’s new strategy is not in itself a surprise, as most incumbents are pushing next generation services plans. The surprise is more the impact of Microsoft strategy in the telecom market. In few months, Microsoft has unexpectedly signed with many large carriers. Microsoft has made remarkable progress and what it is offering is low cost of engineering, ease and time-to-market deployment, proven technology and access to third-party developers. Everything needed to make quick and cheap for testing the market in an uncertain environment.