Orange opens UK Technocentre

Orange opens UK Technocentre

Orange has opened a UK 'Technocentre' to develop new services for its customers.
France Telecom Group chief exeutive and chairman Didier Lombard said: “At Orange, we believe innovation drives sustainable growth. It is at the heart of how we operate as a company and how we create new products for our customers.

"We established the Orange Technocentre model over two years ago, combining experts in the areas of research, engineering and marketing to breathe new life into innovation and make Orange a driving force in the market.

"Today, we are pleased to bring this successful approach to Britain, establishing the second major Technocentre hub which can draw on the Orange Labs network and meet the Group’s innovation needs globally and locally.”

The Orange Technocentre will comprise 80 staff which will work across existing Orange offices in the UK including marketeers, engineers and researchers who will work with Orange’s consumer arm. The Technocentre will be part of its innovation chain Orange Labs network that operate around the world.

Recent technology that has been developed by the network’s Technocentres include Home 3D-TV, life-size video-calling screens, IP telephony, the world’s-first electronic newspaper, and text-to-voice services. Orange and France Telecom have around 8,500 registered patents.

Orange UK chief executive Tom Alexander (pictured) said: “Since joining Orange earlier this year, I’ve been amazed by what the Group can deliver to all corners of the globe. We’re now harnessing that potential and making sure that it works directly for the business – and ultimately our customers.”

“These are the guys who are moving quickly, in small teams to develop new and exciting services for our customers before any one else does.”