The initial Orange mobile network was formed in 1994, with Orange Plc becoming active in 1995. The holding company France Telecom activated the Orange company as we know it today in 2001, with majority share being sold and re-acquired by the French telecommunications group. As the mobile market has grown so to has the Orange company, which now offers 99% network coverage in the UK. This growth enables Orange to compete at the top of the UK telecommunications market, sitting in the top three with O2 and Vodafone.

In recent times the network has grown to have over 12 million UK subscribers and over 30 million subscribers worldwide. The company operates in 20 countries, with 13 of those countries being within Europe. On top of this, Orange PAYG customers can make calls in over 100 countries, utilising network share with around 214 other network providers.

Price plans are available across the standard product offerings, with options available in pay as you go, business, pay monthly and broadband. Contracts are available from as little as £5 a month, with a free phone included. Orange PAYG offers focus on free texts and cross-network calls, these are available as free gifts with top ups from as little as £10. The network can also provide free sims to compete with other network offerings. Orange Broadband is available from £9 a month for access and £25 a month with a free netbook.

One area in which orange customers benefit is special offers, particularly one offering cut price cinema tickets. Orange users (both contract and pay as you go) can get 2-4-1 cinema tickets on Wednesdays, now dubbed “Orange Wednesday”. When you text the offer number a code is sent to the user, this code then gives a buy one get one free at the box office in the cinema. Orange has continued to associate itself with movies, helping to pull auidiences into cinemas across the country.

Orange remains one of the main players in the UK mobile phone market, offering their clients the option of either a monthly payment option or a pay as you go service plan. This second option has proved popular with today’s more budget conscious mobile phone users who enjoy the options of being able to top up their phone through a swipe card, debit or credit or even online.