Orange Business Services Expands Consulting and Integration Services to Deliver Microsoft Unified Communications

Orange Business Services continues to invest in delivering unified communications solutions to customers by expanding its global consulting and integration services. Whether integrated with IP telephony or as a stand-alone Microsoft solution, Orange provides customers with:

-- consulting services: Orange Business Services will assess business and technical requirements in order to design and implement Microsoft-based unified communications solutions.

-- integration services: We can integrate Microsoft-based unified communication solutions within the customer's IT and real-time services such as enterprise telephony, mobility, voice, video and conferencing.

Key business benefits of Microsoft-based unified communications solutions include: greater collaboration within and outside the company, reduced voice costs, cost-per-user pricing with no capital investment, reduced travel, and improved workflow resulting in increased worker productivity. Orange can adapt the solution to a company's unique requirements whether integrating on premise or managed and hosted in our data center, with unified communications as a service or a hybrid solution.

Companies can leverage Orange consulting expertise to design and implement Microsoft unified communications, including Microsoft Enterprise Voice and Conferencing based on Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007. This reduces the risk of a complex voice deployment, providing guidance on the best scenario to achieve the customer's requirements. Orange is also working with Microsoft to test, validate and integrate Microsoft Office Communications Server Enterprise Voice with Business Talk Global, a global voice VPN service.

"Orange Business Services provide an impressive combination of messaging, IP voice and mobility expertise," said Betsy Frost, general manager Microsoft Unified Communications Marketing, Microsoft Corp. "When combined with their global network reach, flexible hosting capabilities and Microsoft Gold Partner status, this represents significant value for large enterprises wanting to implement unified communications."

Consulting and integration services complement the Business Together with Microsoft portfolio of managed services from Orange which includes the latest versions of unified communication and collaboration offerings: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. Orange Business Services supports these services with ITIL(R) standards-based service management ensuring secure and reliable performance for an improved end-user experience.

"Multinational corporations need help removing complexity when integrating communications within their organization to reduce costs while improving business processes," said Didier Jaubert, senior vice president, Global Services, Orange Business Services. "Our Microsoft consulting and integration services enable our customers to leverage our expertise to unify their communications to support business growth."

About Orange

Orange is the key brand of France Telecom, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators. With 126 million customers, the Orange brand now covers Internet, television and Mobile services in the majority of countries where the Group operates. At the end of 2008, France Telecom has consolidated sales of 53.5 billion euros (38.1 billion euros for the first nine months of 2009) and at Sept. 30, 2009, the Group had as customer base of 190 million customers in 32 countries. These include 128.8 million mobile customers and 13.4 million broadband Internet (ADSL) customers worldwide. Orange is the number three mobile operator and the number two provider of broadband Internet services in Europe and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunications services to multinational companies.

The Group's strategy, which is characterized by a strong focus on innovation, convergence and effective cost management, aims to establish Orange as an integrated operator and benchmark for new telecommunications services in Europe. Today the Group remains focused on its core activities as a network operator, while working to develop its position in new growth activities. To meet customer expectations, the Group strives to provide products and services that are simple and user-friendly, while maintaining a sustainable and responsible business model that can be adapted to the requirements of a fast-paced and changing eco-system.

France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on Euronext Paris (compartment A) and on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more information: www.orange.com, www.francetelecom.com, www.orange-business.com

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Personal Communications Services Limited, Orange France or France Telecom.

SOURCE: Orange Business Services

Orange Business Services - Global, Europe and Asia Pacific 
Press contacts 
Frederic Gielec, +33 1 46 46 2189 
frederic.gielec@orange-ftgroup.com 
or 
Orange Business Services - Americas 
Elizabeth Mayeri, +1-212-251-2086 
elizabeth.mayeri@orange-ftgroup.com 
or 
Orange 
Bertrand Deronchaine, +33 1 44 44 93 93 
bertrand.deronchaine@orange-ftgroup.com 
or 
Erika Gelinard, +33 1 44 44 93 93 
egelinard.ext@orange-ftgroup.com

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