Orange and T-Mobile UK to merge

wavejockglw · 07-09-2009, 23:09

It looks like the UK's biggest mobile phone company will be created by the merger of T-Mobile and Orange according to press reports.

Vodafone and 02 have been negotiating to buy T-Mobile but it looks like France Telecom have won the deal and both T-Mobile and Orange will continue as separate brands in the UK but will share networks and back office fuctions. The combined company will have more than 30 million mobile customers in the UK.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/art...le-set-UK.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...UK-market.html

Looks like an official announcment is due tomorrow - Tuesday 8th September 2009.

prking · 08-09-2009, 07:22

This must be a case of two companies who have struggled somewhat (especially T-Mobile) seeing cost savings.

However, are they really going to compete against each other for customers? And what are the competition implications of the resulting 3/T-Mobile/Orange 3G network share?

Ricardodaforce · 08-09-2009, 07:59

I wonder how it will be branded. Orange I would guess.

Running Water · 08-09-2009, 08:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricardodaforce

I wonder how it will be branded. Orange I would guess.

T'Orange

mossy2103 · 08-09-2009, 08:34

The Business guy on Sky News this morning seemed to think that, as Orange is the larger company and Deutsche TeleKom (who own T-Mobile) wanted to withdraw from the UK mobile phone market, Orange would in effect be taking over T-Mobile and would then be the dominant party.

This is on the BBC News site:

Quote:

Both brands will remain separate for the first 18 months after the deal is completed while branding is reviewed.

Orange chief executive Tom Alexander will lead the new company, with T-Mobile's UK boss Richard Moat as chief operating officer.

Orange employs 12,500 people in the UK, while T-Mobile has UK workforce of 6,500.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8243226.stm

chinchin · 08-09-2009, 08:38

Go with Virgin, better customer service and cheaper calls. I found Orange to be very poor which is why I switched to T-Mobile, then they started charging to retrieve voicemail messages so I switched to Virgin Pay as you Go!

bona-v · 08-09-2009, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Running Water

T'Orange

Can I offer you Orange-T?

Running Water · 08-09-2009, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by bona-v

Can I offer you Orange-T?

Hmmm... this is getting interesting!

How about T-Morange? (come to think of it, sounds like 'Team Orange' !! )

bona-v · 08-09-2009, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinchin

Go with Virgin, better customer service and cheaper calls. I found Orange to be very poor which is why I switched to T-Mobile, then they started charging to retrieve voicemail messages so I switched to Virgin Pay as you Go!

But how will it affect Virgin? Virgin is a virtual network using T-Mobile network.

Must admit, if T-Mobile and Orange combine networks, it will be better in my area as T-Mobile is very weak for me locally. Not that it matters too much personally as I have now switched to Orange.

T-Mobile and 121 as they were, have always seemed to be the poor relative in the UK. They historically have offered the best tarriffs, ie more free minutes and texts, used to have free voicemail, but have never seemed to attract the amount of customers they need to push forward.

But the merger seems to be a cost saving excercise and it seems they will still compete against each other.

chinchin · 08-09-2009, 08:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by bona-v

But how will it affect Virgin? Virgin is a virtual network using T-Mobile network.

Must admit, if T-Mobile and Orange combine networks, it will be better in my area as T-Mobile is very weak for me locally. Not that it matters too much personally as I have now switched to Orange.

T-Mobile and 121 as they were, have always seemed to be the poor relative in the UK. They historically have offered the best tarriffs, ie more free minutes and texts, used to have free voicemail, but have never seemed to attract the amount of customers they need to push forward.

But the merger seems to be a cost saving excercise and it seems they will still compete against each other.

They are a virtual nework of T-Mobile, but they set their own prices and have their own customer services (based in South Africa)

bona-v · 08-09-2009, 09:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Running Water

Hmmm... this is getting interesting!

How about T-Morange? (come to think of it, sounds like 'Team Orange' !! )

You need to copyright that one. It has a nice ring (no pun intended) to it. I can see it on the boardroom and call centre walls all over the merged company.

bona-v · 08-09-2009, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinchin

They are a virtual nework of T-Mobile, but they set their own prices and have their own customer services (based in South Africa)

I realise that, but I mentioned it as the business analyst on Sky News specifically mentioned that they do not know how it will affect Virgin. So either the guy is just waffling, as the agreement with Virgin is historic or he is aware of a specific part of the merger.

chinchin · 08-09-2009, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by bona-v

I realise that, but I mentioned it as the business analyst on Sky News specifically mentioned that they do not know how it will affect Virgin. So either the guy is just waffling, as the agreement with Virgin is historic or he is aware of a specific part of the merger.

They will probably get their spectrum allocation from the bigger Orange concern and have to up their prices

mrrobward · 08-09-2009, 09:17

According to BBC, its going to take 18 months to do a branding review. I have a simple answer, oT . Just like o2, get the people thinking its o2 and lock them into a contract

chinchin · 08-09-2009, 09:20

Remember this prediction. It will be Orange and the T-Mobile name will disappear!

I love Ellie · 08-09-2009, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricardodaforce

I wonder how it will be branded. Orange I would guess.

Orabile.

chris20 · 08-09-2009, 09:23

this will be very good as they will be the only network to give you fantastic signal if virgin keep there deal with them they will have excellent coverage to.

Appleseed · 08-09-2009, 09:37

I'd prefer that they keep the T-Mobile name if they were going to keep either. T-Mobile sounds more like what the business is all about, whereas Orange is just a colour.

bubbsy · 08-09-2009, 09:38

T Mobile has a lengthy press release on their site (8 Sep)

Quote:

The T-Mobile UK and Orange UK brands will be maintained separately for 18 months after completion of the transaction. During that period management will review branding alternatives for the joint venture and will develop a new branding strategy recommendation for shareholder approval.

Prior to the signing, which is expected to be end of October, both Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom will undertake confirmatory due diligence and will complete the definitive documentation. The final agreement is subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Telekom and the Board of Directors of France Telecom, and the completion of an agreed transaction would be conditional on approval by the relevant competition authorities.

Orange has the same press release.

iRuss · 08-09-2009, 09:45

It'll be a new brand entirely to indicate it's the new big kid on the block. Prior to the new launch there'll be a 6 month PR campaign involving pretentious adverts thought out in an office tower block by men with pony-tails who drink water out of little green bottles.

M. Tourette · 08-09-2009, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinchin

They will probably get their spectrum allocation from the bigger Orange concern and have to up their prices

So in other words best not to switch to Virgin as you suggested earlier

TheSoulBrother · 08-09-2009, 10:53

Inevitably going to retain the Orange branding.

M. Tourette · 08-09-2009, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Appleseed

I'd prefer that they keep the T-Mobile name if they were going to keep either. T-Mobile sounds more like what the business is all about, whereas Orange is just a colour.

I think you might find it is a fruit as well.
Personally I would rather the name Orange be used instead of Tmobile - which is just awkward in it's sound.

I just hope this can sway Apple to join in with Orange in the UK now so it's customers can get iPhones.

gary77 · 08-09-2009, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSoulBrother

Inevitably going to retain the Orange branding.

Wish they would get rid of the branding on there phones, one of the reasons why i left Orange afew years ago.

TheBigM · 08-09-2009, 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by M. Tourette

I just hope this can sway Apple to join in with Orange in the UK now so it's customers can get iPhones.

I guess you haven't heard the saying about apples and oranges? Along the lines of chalk and cheese?

I would have thought a three-way merger of Virgin Mobile, T-Mobile and 3 would be best.

3 is the biggest innovator of them all but struggles due to no 2G coverage (hence the dropped call issue) and just too small. T-Mobile is small too but together they might be big enough. Virgin has had the best customer service reputation for many years now but being an MVNO suffers from higher call charges while not receiving any termination charge income.

If they merged could revamp Three's customer service with that of Virgin while Virgin would have the marketing too (as we move into 4G Three's brand name means less too). Throwing T-Mobile into the mix adds weight and makes the transition more seamless for customers of all given a) virgin customers use T-Mobile operator codes and Three and T-Mobile have a mast-sharing agreement.

07-09-2009, 23:09	#1
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	Orange and T-Mobile UK to merge It looks like the UK's biggest mobile phone company will be created by the merger of T-Mobile and Orange according to press reports. Vodafone and 02 have been negotiating to buy T-Mobile but it looks like France Telecom have won the deal and both T-Mobile and Orange will continue as separate brands in the UK but will share networks and back office fuctions. The combined company will have more than 30 million mobile customers in the UK. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/art...le-set-UK.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...UK-market.html Looks like an official announcment is due tomorrow - Tuesday 8th September 2009.

08-09-2009, 07:22	#2
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	This must be a case of two companies who have struggled somewhat (especially T-Mobile) seeing cost savings. However, are they really going to compete against each other for customers? And what are the competition implications of the resulting 3/T-Mobile/Orange 3G network share?

08-09-2009, 07:59	#3
Ricardodaforce Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alacant Posts: 7,773	I wonder how it will be branded. Orange I would guess.

08-09-2009, 08:24	#4
Running Water Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 768	Quote: Originally Posted by Ricardodaforce I wonder how it will be branded. Orange I would guess. T'Orange

08-09-2009, 08:34	#5
mossy2103 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 68,710	The Business guy on Sky News this morning seemed to think that, as Orange is the larger company and Deutsche TeleKom (who own T-Mobile) wanted to withdraw from the UK mobile phone market, Orange would in effect be taking over T-Mobile and would then be the dominant party. This is on the BBC News site: Quote: Both brands will remain separate for the first 18 months after the deal is completed while branding is reviewed. Orange chief executive Tom Alexander will lead the new company, with T-Mobile's UK boss Richard Moat as chief operating officer. Orange employs 12,500 people in the UK, while T-Mobile has UK workforce of 6,500. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8243226.stm

08-09-2009, 08:38	#6
chinchin Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Great Britain Posts: 32,525	Go with Virgin, better customer service and cheaper calls. I found Orange to be very poor which is why I switched to T-Mobile, then they started charging to retrieve voicemail messages so I switched to Virgin Pay as you Go!

08-09-2009, 08:49	#7
bona-v Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 1,195	Quote: Originally Posted by Running Water T'Orange Can I offer you Orange-T?

08-09-2009, 08:51	#8
Running Water Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 768	Quote: Originally Posted by bona-v Can I offer you Orange-T? Hmmm... this is getting interesting! How about T-Morange? (come to think of it, sounds like 'Team Orange' !! )

08-09-2009, 08:57	#9
bona-v Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 1,195	Quote: Originally Posted by chinchin Go with Virgin, better customer service and cheaper calls. I found Orange to be very poor which is why I switched to T-Mobile, then they started charging to retrieve voicemail messages so I switched to Virgin Pay as you Go! But how will it affect Virgin? Virgin is a virtual network using T-Mobile network. Must admit, if T-Mobile and Orange combine networks, it will be better in my area as T-Mobile is very weak for me locally. Not that it matters too much personally as I have now switched to Orange. T-Mobile and 121 as they were, have always seemed to be the poor relative in the UK. They historically have offered the best tarriffs, ie more free minutes and texts, used to have free voicemail, but have never seemed to attract the amount of customers they need to push forward. But the merger seems to be a cost saving excercise and it seems they will still compete against each other.

08-09-2009, 08:58	#10
chinchin Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Great Britain Posts: 32,525	Quote: Originally Posted by bona-v But how will it affect Virgin? Virgin is a virtual network using T-Mobile network. Must admit, if T-Mobile and Orange combine networks, it will be better in my area as T-Mobile is very weak for me locally. Not that it matters too much personally as I have now switched to Orange. T-Mobile and 121 as they were, have always seemed to be the poor relative in the UK. They historically have offered the best tarriffs, ie more free minutes and texts, used to have free voicemail, but have never seemed to attract the amount of customers they need to push forward. But the merger seems to be a cost saving excercise and it seems they will still compete against each other. They are a virtual nework of T-Mobile, but they set their own prices and have their own customer services (based in South Africa)

08-09-2009, 09:00	#11
bona-v Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 1,195	Quote: Originally Posted by Running Water Hmmm... this is getting interesting! How about T-Morange? (come to think of it, sounds like 'Team Orange' !! ) You need to copyright that one. It has a nice ring (no pun intended) to it. I can see it on the boardroom and call centre walls all over the merged company.

08-09-2009, 09:08	#12
bona-v Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 1,195	Quote: Originally Posted by chinchin They are a virtual nework of T-Mobile, but they set their own prices and have their own customer services (based in South Africa) I realise that, but I mentioned it as the business analyst on Sky News specifically mentioned that they do not know how it will affect Virgin. So either the guy is just waffling, as the agreement with Virgin is historic or he is aware of a specific part of the merger.

08-09-2009, 09:10	#13
chinchin Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Great Britain Posts: 32,525	Quote: Originally Posted by bona-v I realise that, but I mentioned it as the business analyst on Sky News specifically mentioned that they do not know how it will affect Virgin. So either the guy is just waffling, as the agreement with Virgin is historic or he is aware of a specific part of the merger. They will probably get their spectrum allocation from the bigger Orange concern and have to up their prices

08-09-2009, 09:17	#14
mrrobward Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stowmarket Posts: 677	According to BBC, its going to take 18 months to do a branding review. I have a simple answer, oT . Just like o2, get the people thinking its o2 and lock them into a contract

08-09-2009, 09:20	#15
chinchin Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Great Britain Posts: 32,525	Remember this prediction. It will be Orange and the T-Mobile name will disappear!

08-09-2009, 09:23	#16
I love Ellie Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 7,743	Quote: Originally Posted by Ricardodaforce I wonder how it will be branded. Orange I would guess. Orabile.

08-09-2009, 09:23	#17
chris20 Guest Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,556	this will be very good as they will be the only network to give you fantastic signal if virgin keep there deal with them they will have excellent coverage to.

08-09-2009, 09:37	#18
Appleseed Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3,673	I'd prefer that they keep the T-Mobile name if they were going to keep either. T-Mobile sounds more like what the business is all about, whereas Orange is just a colour.

08-09-2009, 09:38	#19
bubbsy Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,607	T Mobile has a lengthy press release on their site (8 Sep) Quote: The T-Mobile UK and Orange UK brands will be maintained separately for 18 months after completion of the transaction. During that period management will review branding alternatives for the joint venture and will develop a new branding strategy recommendation for shareholder approval. Prior to the signing, which is expected to be end of October, both Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom will undertake confirmatory due diligence and will complete the definitive documentation. The final agreement is subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Telekom and the Board of Directors of France Telecom, and the completion of an agreed transaction would be conditional on approval by the relevant competition authorities. Orange has the same press release.

08-09-2009, 09:45	#20
iRuss Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 470	It'll be a new brand entirely to indicate it's the new big kid on the block. Prior to the new launch there'll be a 6 month PR campaign involving pretentious adverts thought out in an office tower block by men with pony-tails who drink water out of little green bottles.

08-09-2009, 10:51	#21
M. Tourette Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Filmer Hole. Posts: 6,451	Quote: Originally Posted by chinchin They will probably get their spectrum allocation from the bigger Orange concern and have to up their prices So in other words best not to switch to Virgin as you suggested earlier

DS Forums

Orange and T-Mobile UK to merge

08-09-2009, 10:53	#22
TheSoulBrother Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2,940	Inevitably going to retain the Orange branding.

08-09-2009, 10:55	#23
M. Tourette Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Filmer Hole. Posts: 6,451	Quote: Originally Posted by Appleseed I'd prefer that they keep the T-Mobile name if they were going to keep either. T-Mobile sounds more like what the business is all about, whereas Orange is just a colour. I think you might find it is a fruit as well. Personally I would rather the name Orange be used instead of Tmobile - which is just awkward in it's sound. I just hope this can sway Apple to join in with Orange in the UK now so it's customers can get iPhones.

08-09-2009, 11:14	#24
gary77 Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 935	Quote: Originally Posted by TheSoulBrother Inevitably going to retain the Orange branding. Wish they would get rid of the branding on there phones, one of the reasons why i left Orange afew years ago.

08-09-2009, 11:28	#25
TheBigM Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: moon Posts: 12,983	Quote: Originally Posted by M. Tourette I just hope this can sway Apple to join in with Orange in the UK now so it's customers can get iPhones. I guess you haven't heard the saying about apples and oranges? Along the lines of chalk and cheese? I would have thought a three-way merger of Virgin Mobile, T-Mobile and 3 would be best. 3 is the biggest innovator of them all but struggles due to no 2G coverage (hence the dropped call issue) and just too small. T-Mobile is small too but together they might be big enough. Virgin has had the best customer service reputation for many years now but being an MVNO suffers from higher call charges while not receiving any termination charge income. If they merged could revamp Three's customer service with that of Virgin while Virgin would have the marketing too (as we move into 4G Three's brand name means less too). Throwing T-Mobile into the mix adds weight and makes the transition more seamless for customers of all given a) virgin customers use T-Mobile operator codes and Three and T-Mobile have a mast-sharing agreement.