subject: Orange UK and Text Messaging - T-Mobile [print this page] Orange UK and Text Messaging - T-Mobile Orange UK and Text Messaging - T-Mobile
Orange is the brand used by France Tlcom for its mobile network operator and Internet service provider subsidiaries. It is the seventh largest telecom operator in the world, with over 189 million customers as of 2009. The brand was created in 1994 for Hutchison Telecom's UK mobile phone network, which was acquired by France Tlcom in August 2000. In 2006, the company's ISP operations, previously Wanadoo, were also rebranded Orange. Orange is now the unique commercial faade of almost all France Telecom services. Orange France was incorporated in 2005 and has its headquarters in Arcueil, France
Text messaging or texting refers to the exchange of brief written messages between fixed-line phone or mobile phone and fixed or portable devices over a network. While the original term (see below) was derived from referring to messages sent using the Short Message Service (SMS) originated from Radio Telegraphy, it has since been extended to include messages containing image, video, and sound content (known as MMS messages). The sender of a text message is known as a texter, while the service itself has different colloquialisms depending on the region: it may simply be referred to as a text in North America, India, Australia, the Philippines and the United Kingdom, an SMS in most of Europe, and a TMS or SMS in the Middle East and Asia.
Text messages can be used to interact with automated systems, such as ordering products and services for mobile phones, or participating in contests. Advertisers and service providers use texts to notify mobile phone users about promotions, payment due dates and other notifications that can usually be sent by post, e-mail or voicemail.
In straight and concise definition, "Text Messaging" by phones or mobile phones should include all 26 letters of the alphabet and 10 numerals, i.e. alpha-numeric messages or text to be sent by texter or received by the textee
T-Mobile is a German provider, owned by Deutsche Telekom. It operates several GSM networks in Europe and the United States. T-Mobile also has financial stakes in mobile operators in Central and Eastern Europe. Globally, T-Mobile has some 150 million subscribers making it the world's eighth largest mobile phone service provider by subscribers and the third largest multinational after the United Kingdom's Vodafone and Spain's Telefnica. T-Mobile UK has recently become part of a joint venture with France Telecom's mobile network provider, Orange U.K.; together they make the UK's largest mobile operator, called Everything Everywhere.
Based in Germany, T-Mobile is present in ten other European countries (Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and the United Kingdom) as well as the United States.
In late 2005, Deutsche Telekom attempted to acquire rival mobile network operator O2, but was beaten by Spain's Telefnica.
In March 2008, the company announced its plan to acquire Siemens Wireless Modules (now known as Cinterion Wireless Modules) as part of the JOMA consortium. The Siemens Wireless Modules spin off to Cinterion Wireless Modules was concluded on 1 May 2008
