Staff Reporter

Previously Orange only offered its advanced business services to companies with more than 50 employees.

Called Business Plus the package offers companies a free answerphone no per minute charges between Business Plus colleagues 24-hour handset replacement loyalty discounts mid-contract tariff review and unautomated customer services.

Call bundles are selected by the customer.

Mobile pricing and services have been far too complex and discriminated against businesses according to size said Alastair MacLeod vice-president of Orange Business Solutions.

While every business is different and some will need the additional services that Orange provides it makes sense to create a single consistent and compelling proposition for businesses of all sizes said MacLeod.

Even if you combine all the services our competitors offer businesses as standard it is still nowhere near comparable to the level of service we offer.

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BT has long touted the device which switches calls between fixed-line and mobile networks depending on the users proximity to a base station in the home or office as the future of telephony.

We are weeks away now from making an announcement said a BT spokesman. A date has not yet been fixed but it will be around June 15. We will say more after that time. We dont want to talk about it prior to the launch. But we have said that we are launching and we will launch.

Bluephone connects to a BT wireless access point in the home or office via Bluetooth and switches calls from mobile to BTs fixed-line network as appropriate. BT announced a deal with Vodafone a year ago so that when the user is out of range the calls will be carried on the Vodafone network.

Hurring also now runs the independent channel as well as independent service providers.

But rumours were circulating earlier this week that Nick Griffin the man who deals with Vodafones distributors had also left the company.

Griffin was a protege of Graham who it now transpires was sacked after disagreeing with a reorganisation ordered by Vodafone enterprise business unit director Kyle Whitehill.

According to one source:

Whitehill put Libby Barr Vodafones corporate sector head for IT and telecoms in charge of all sales. Iain objected and was virtually thrown off the premises.

The source who is close to Vodafone said it looked like Hurring a Barr appointee was establishing his own regime and putting in his own acolytes.

Griffin unexpectedly went on holiday last week.

LG Mobile marketing manager John Bernard said: LG Mobile has an association with Liverpool and Fulham in the Premiership already. We are talking to a number of Premiership clubs and it is hoped that we will be the shirt sponsor of a Premiership team by the start of next season.

LG Mobile is the official handset partner of both Fulham and Liverpool.

A spokesman for Tottenham Hotspur said: Our response is the same as it would be to player transfer speculation. It is just speculation and we do not comment on that.

Spurs 2.5 million-per-year deal with holiday firm Thomson expires this summer. Fulhams shirt sponsorship deal with Internet service provider Pipex expires at the end the 2006/07 season. Liverpool is thought to be on the verge of signing a new deal with current shirt sponsor Carlsberg.

O₂ is the last UK operator to exclude the numbers and began enforcing the new policy to new customers in April. The latest announcement means that both existing subscribers and new customers can no longer call make calls to the numbers within their inclusive minutes.

Calls to O₂ customer services and telephone helpline association are the only exceptions to the groups new charging policy.

A spokesperson for O₂ said: O₂ constantly reviews its tariffs to make sure that they offer the best value to the most customers. We regularly introduce new services and benefits to make sure that O₂ remains competitive.

Unlike many of our competitors our customers have enjoyed five years of being able to call non-geographic numbers from within their inclusive bundle. From time to time we make changes to our call plans to ensure that our charges are fair for the most people. Overall these changes are giving better value to our customers.

A Phones 4U spokesman confirmed that the sales manager had not turned up to work since last Monday (January 23) when the theft took place.

The assistant sales manager turned up to work and reported it said the spokesman. The sales manager is not at work. We cant comment any more until the police investigation has been concluded.

A source close to Phones 4U told Mobile News that the Union Street sales manager had stolen 100000 in SIM-free stock together with three days takings.

He took everything and hasnt been seen since. It is estimated that he took 100000 in stock and the weekends takings said the source.

The sales manager allegedly missed a Phones 4U sales conference in Dumfries on January 23. He was expected to share a ride to the conference with the sales manager of the Phones 4U branch in Aberdeens St Nicholas shopping centre according to the source.

The Phones 4U spokesman was unable to confirm the total loss.

We dont know that [figure] until police have investigated he said. Auditors are checking to see whats missing and what needs to be accounted for. l Meanwhile Phones 4U recorded bumper sales over 2005 and has outlined plans for expansion.

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The investigation follows criticism that Customs had not followed disclosure procedures in a missing trader case. Justice Crane accused the officials of muddle incompetence and lack of frankness.

Defence lawyers and Customs own barrister were not told prosecution witnesses were under investigation in a separate Customs case.

This led to the collapse of the trial at a cost of 60 million.

Its the proper thing to do said Jason Collins a partner in the tax litigation of law firm McGrigors. There has been a culture in Customs of getting their man at all costs. But it must go through due process.

Anthony Barnfather defence counsel in the Operation Venison case said: My client is pleased there is going to be an investigation.

A Customs spokesperson said: We are committed to ensuring the issues raised are fully investigated and we will be cooperating fully with the IPCC.

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Associate sales director Craig Abraham was Dextras national account manager for Orange. He is understood to have died instantly after a collision with another skier on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old New Zealander joined Dextra two-and-a-half years ago and was on the trip at the Val dIsere with his boss Dextra CEO Mark Ormerod who is said to be distraught over his employees tragic death.

Craig was one of the nicest guys you could have ever of hoped to work with he said. We will all miss Craig desperately at Dextra. His colleagues and friends throughout the Caudwell Group are feeling the loss of a super guy a talented business man a fantastic colleague but most of all a fun-loving guy who would always find time for joke and a chat with anyone in the office.

Mark Squires director of corporate communications at Nokia confirmed that the trip was cut short following the incident and all the delegates flew back to England the following day.

Craigs death is being investigated at the moment – we cannot discuss it until after the post mortem he said. Its been very harrowing for everyone involved. We flew everyone back as soon as we could.

Squires said that Abrahams parents were notified late on Wednesday because of the 12-hour time difference in New Zealand.

The skiing trip is something we do every year with our suppliers just ahead of 3GSM so that we can talk through what will be happening there added Squires.

Meanwhile Abrahams death is being mourned at Caudwells Staffordshire HQ. In an official statement a spokesman said: It is with great sadness that we can confirm the death of Craig Abraham. Our deepest sympathies go out to Craigs family and friends at this difficult time.

One colleague described Abraham as a friendly and popular member of the Dextra workforce.

He was an all round nice guy – the type everyone got on with – and his death has come as a real shock. He will be sorely missed.

Commenting on the tragedy John Caudwell said: Craig was an inspiration to those around him. His professionalism devotion and fun loving approach to work had a positive impact on everyone he met. His popularity and ability to be a good friend as well as a work colleague will be sadly missed.

Abraham leaves behind a partner Helen as well as his mother and two sisters in New Zealand.

Orange embarked on an internal process last year to identify dealers and distance resellers that were delivering low-value connections. That process should be completed in the first half of 2006. A cull of low-value connectors will follow.

Orange head of independent retail Chris Hough said: We have paid good money for commissions because we want to reward dealers not consumers. We will strengthen our relationships with the dealers that bring us good value business but we wont hesitate to cull a few that fall below that threshold.

The losses to this country have risen from 1.4bn to 1.9bn in the last 12 months. There should now be a public enquiry into their strategy.

Ian Prescott founding partner and director of Bond House said:

For the past three years we have been forced to cease trading after the withdrawal of a VAT refund of 13.2m. Myself and the other business directors and their families have suffered terribly as a result of the Customs actions. It has been a long and painful battle. Customs should never have been able to act in this way.