Orange embraces wi-fi

Orange is to launch its own wi-fi network across the UK and will be aping BT with a combined 3G, GPRS and wi-fi service for businesses.

The France Telecom-owned telco is the last of the big four mobile operators to roll out such a service but it claims now to be the provider of "one of the largest networks" of hotspots around the country, which number some 1,700 in the UK and 12,000 around Europe.

Orange will use partners including BT Openzone to supply its network, which will officially be launched on 19 December.

The mobile operator is launching wi-fi-centric Business Everywhere software and tariffs in January to run alongside the Orange-flavoured hotspots.

The software will enable Orange's business customers to use their laptop data card to connect over wi-fi, GPRS or 3G. Data allowances, which will include an all-you-can-eat bundle and cover any of the three internet access technologies, can be shared between users.

Orange already has one professional services firm with 11,000 users signed up to the service.

Alastair MacLeod, head of Orange business solutions, said wi-fi has now become so important to remote workers that Orange felt it had to include it among its offerings.

He said: "The economics of a standalone wi-fi proposition are not straightforward. With a properly-integrated [teleworking] proposition, a wi-fi component is essential. You couldn't have a remote worker proposition without it."