Reliance Communications Likely To Use " Orange " Brand To Offer Service

[Arun 795]

Economic Times

17 Mar, 2008, 2230

Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications is understood to have roped in Orange Telecom to use the French company's brand for offering services.

The move comes within days of RCom's rival Tata Teleservices announcing their tie-up with British giant virgin.

When contacted, Reliance Communications officials declined to comment.

Tata's deal with Virgin had created a furore among other operators, with the GSM lobby group COAI writing to the Department of Telecom seeking its view whether a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) was allowed in the country.

Tatas were quick to clarify that they had entered into a brand franchise agreement with Virgin, whereby they would be using their brand to offer services to cater to the youth segment.

Meanwhile, RCom officials did not elaborate on the contours of the deal with Orange Telecom.

Orange to ride Reliance Communications in second coming

Business Standard / Mumbai March 18, 2008

Reliance Communications (RCom) plans to launch France Telecom’s Orange brand in India, under a franchisee agreement, much like the recent Tata Teleservices and UK-based Virgin Mobile deal.

For Orange, this would be a second coming as the brand was earlier operational in the country through GSM operator Hutchison-Essar (now Vodafone-Essar).

The Anil Ambani group company is in advanced talks with France Telecom for a branding, marketing and franchisee agreement. The company plans to launch the brand by the second quarter of FY09, according to sources close to the development.

Initially, the Orange may be launched on RCom’s CDMA network – spanning across 23,000 towns and 5 lakh villages in India – and later extended to its 8 GSM circles. The Indian company has a total of 44.5 million subscribers in India.

Under the tie-up, both the companies are believed to be discussing introducing data-rich handsets to be sold exclusively under the Orange brand.

The companies are also planning to launch high-end e-mail PDA devices, apart from a range of value-added services (VAS) in the Indian market.

When contacted a Reliance Communications’ spokesperson refused to comment, saying the group won’t comment on speculations.

According to industry analysts, RCom is looking at a tie-up with France Telecom, due to Orange brand’s high recall value.

If the companies sign an agreement, then this would be second time Orange services would be available in India. The brand had exited the country in 2005, after its agreement with Hutchison-Essar ended. Hutchison-Essar had moved over to the ‘Hutch’ brand.

Orange is the key brand of France Telecom Group, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with over 153 million customers in 220 countries across the globe.

[Honest 836]

^^^

My dear friends, Orange had already gained the popularity in India when it has the tie-up with Hutchison-Essar. That means very soon indian roads will be flooded with the hoardings of Orange again.

I do remember, earlier when Orange has started in tie-up with Hutchison-Essar, in the very first month of their operations, they had refunded some amount equivalent to Rs.900/- to their existing customers as a gift. God knows what surprise they would be having now for the Indian subscribers.

Regards.

[rajeshkatiyar 3]

I never believe it . Orange will not choose such a

cheap operator . Rel has poorest connectivity

In UP East we often remain without signals for hours

[Dj 25]

^^^

Dear Rajesh...

its strange but true that signals have never been a problem here in lucknow somehow... have been using reliance since the first week of its launch here in lko...

[kshah 452]

I never believe it . Orange will not choose such a

cheap operator . Rel has poorest connectivity

In UP East we often remain without signals for hours

Still we use reliance because reliance indeed a "CHEAP" service provider. Network strength for every operator varies from area to area. In gujarat, I think they have excellent coverage but when I go to Rajasthan its absolutely pathatic - comparitively. When in roaming, GSM has only advantage of multiple network.

Also once you get hooked to CDMA voice quality and network performance, GSM will not be prefered.

[@ksh@T 20]

@kshah

i dont know have been using reliance since launch have never ever faced network problem in rajasthan. i dont know which area you are describing but i have personally never ever faced problem

[Honest 836]

^^^

I never found any problems in Reliance Network throughout India, wherever I had been. Except some of very remote localities, their is good network coverage throughout India.

I never believe it . Orange will not choose such a cheap operator.

^^^

@Rajesh Katiyar

My dear friend, actually its all about money regardless to the status of the operator. Any foreign brand will definetely be ready, if it get the best offer.

And Reliance is not at all such a cheap operator. Rather Reliance is the cheapest service provider. Cheap call charges are first introduced by Reliance only.

Regards.

Edited March 18, 2008 by Honest

[Arun 795]

end of rumour!

France Telecom Denies Plans to License Orange Brand to Reliance Communications

Dow Jones Newswires - 18th March 2008

PARIS - France Telecom has denied it plans to license its Orange brand to Reliance Communications in India.

"France Telecom dismisses the rumors of a tie-up with Reliance Communications in India as being the result of market speculation," a France Telecom spokesman said.

Earlier Tuesday, the Business Standard in India reported that Reliance Communications was in advanced talks with France Telecom to launch the Orange brand in India, citing unnamed sources.

A person familiar with the development told Dow Jones Newswires earlier Tuesday that Reliance was in "exploratory" talks with France Telecom over the use of the Orange brand.

[rajeshkatiyar 3]

^^^

Dear Rajesh...

its strange but true that signals have never been a problem here in lucknow somehow... have been using reliance since the first week of its launch here in lko...

My Dear Friend

Ifail to understand. I am also first day user . iam a proffessional person

and lot my friend used Relianc in Kanpur. Now because of poorest

connectivity fake billing and sudden collapse of prepaid amount

my 75% friends shifted to othre network. I also shifted to TATA

@ honest it is not cheapest TATA is

cheapest rate wise. My friend Rel have cheapest quality sets

cheap connectivity cheap quality customer care.