Orange and Microsoft today announced the launch of Orange Messenger by Windows Live, a service that will allow Orange customers to communicate with users of Windows Live Messenger.

The service will roll out in December in France, before coming to the UK and other European countries in early 2007. This will open it out to 135m users who will then be able to be contact the estimated 240m people using Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger.

Orange plans to offer Orange Messenger by Windows Live customers VoIP and videoconferencing facilities in the future. The service will be accessible using a PC or a mobile phone.

“Our ambition is to offer simple convergent services, bringing our customers into the world of always-on connectivity”, said Didier Lombard, chairman and CEO, France Telecom, Orange's parent company.

Orange may very well hope it takes some of the focus away from recent problems with its broadband service. Up to 100,000 UK customers were unable to access the service for more than 24 hours earlier this week. Orange says the service has now been fully restored.

http://www.orange.co.uk
http://www.microsoft.com

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