Customers who join Orange Broadband inside PC World stores will receive a free laptop worth £300. The laptops include a 40GB hard drive a Celeron processor 256MB memory and a 15.4 Widescreen display. The broadband package will cost £14.99 a month and users will receive a download speed of up to 2MB.

Higher specified laptops are also available to customers who connect to Oranges 8GB broadband service. Anyone who signs up to the £19.99 service will receive a £350 discount on any PC World laptop.

PC World marketing director Niall OKeeffe said: The chance to have a free laptop is an amazing offer that is sure to tempt thousands of customers to sign up to Orange broadband through our stores. Orange broadband is already highly competitive with one of the lowest monthly tariffs on the market. I am sure that the inclusion of a free laptop will electrify the market.

Yesterday Ofcom revealed proposals that will force mobile operators to transfer numbers within two working days by April 2008. The regulator also outlined plans for instantaneous transfers which would be in place by September 2009.

3 CEO Kevin Russell has welcomed the plans but he believes operators should implement instantaneous number transfers within 12 months. He said: This is good news for UK consumers. Letting people move their number to a new network quickly and easily will encourage competition and greater choice. These changes will bring down prices for all UK mobile users.

However we think that the proposal which gives the industry over 26 months to implement these changes when it could easily be done in 12 months is unnecessarily generous. The current porting system is letting down UK consumers and there must be a greater sense of urgency to fix it.

From July 3 Carphone will stock the Curve 8800 and Pearl devices to be connected on either O2 Orange and T-Mobile.

Carphone UK chief executive Andrew Harrison said: Were extremely excited about this relationship which we believe will take BlackBerry smartphones beyond the boardroom and into the handbag.

Carphone Warehouse is the worlds largest consumer retailer of mobile phones and through this partnership we aim to bring the benefits of BlackBerry smartphones to all.

Redstone Mobile will continue to offer the services provided by Anglia Telecom but will also offer a business desktop for PCs fixed line VoIP IP networks/converged solutions and storage area networks.

Redstone Mobile managing director Dave McGinn said: Some people will obviously miss the Anglia Telecom name but were viewing this as becoming part of something much bigger and better something which will benefit our dealers both in the short and the long term.

Our customers will still be able to get that unrivalled service with Redstone Mobile that theyve been used to with Anglia Telecom. Were not aware of anybody else in the independent dealer channel that can offer the product and service portfolio that we now can.

Ogden joins as UK channel director of retail while Whicheloe is the new channel director for virtual network operators and networks.

Ogden spent 15 years in sales and marketing roles at Nokia UK. At Brightstar he will be responsible for providing distribution services to retail customers throughout the UK. Whicheloe has spent 10 years in the industry.

Their arrival follows the news that European Telecom head of sales Colin Sarratt has joined the company as sales director.

Dextra Solutions has signed an exclusive deal with mobiles2go to supply the i-Kids child safety device in the UK. />The i-Kids product marks Dextras first foray into the provision of telematics products. The agreement covers fulfilment and distribution through all major channels. />Dextra Solutions managing director James Browning said: i-Kids is an innovative device that will allow our partners to benefit from new markets and increased revenues. The agreement underlines our ability to provide suppliers with a single distribution point that delivers effective and comprehensive routes to market. />i-Kids features a one-touch emergency button and GPS functionality to enable parents to trace the whereabouts of their children. Kids can reach a parent or guardian by pressing a button which automatically speed-dials four pre-programmed numbers in sequence until the alert is answered. In the unlikely event no-does the call is diverted to the i-Kids 24-hour service desk where a trained operator can offer assistance. />The device only allows children to call the four pre-programmed speed dial numbers. And while children can receive text messages and calls from parents on their i-Kids device they are not able to send text messages or engage in any communication that isnt authorised by their guardian. />Parents can also pinpoint the location of their child to within 10-20 metres by carrying out a real-time trace using their mobile or PC.

Anglia Telecom is the first distributor to complete O2s data training programme. />The Mobilisation Training Programme drills and tests sales staff in O2 data products and services so they are better equipped to data solutions. />The two-day event took place at Ipswich Town FC and attended by Anglia dealer account managers sales and connections staff. />Anglia managing director Dave McGinn said: Would you go to a dentist that wasnt qualified? So why go to a distributor for data that hasnt completed accredited training? />He went on: Dealers have to look for other revenue streams other than voice and data is what the networks are pushing. We are offering a full range of voice and data solutions. It is the way the industry is heading. />Head of O2 indirect partners and business mobilisation David Plumb commented: Initially launched to our internal sales force the programme was extended to provide our partners with the skills and knowledge they need to confidently position O2 data solutions that meet the specific requirements of their customers.

US accessories distributor Strax has struck a deal with BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) to distribute BlackBerry accessories across Europe. />The BlackBerry agreement adds to Straxs Original Accessory Packaging contracts which enable it to package premium brand accessories in one-blister-fits-all packs and issue them to retailers across Europe. />Strax UK managing director Barry Colman said: The management teams of Strax and BlackBerry have worked extremely hard to set up this European distribution agreement. />We are excited to add the BlackBerry range to our base in both original packaging and through our OAP programme as well as being given this opportunity to demonstrate our supply chain ability as a true accessory fulfilment specialist. />This pan-European partnership also enables the Strax offices in the United Kingdom France Germany Iceland the Netherlands Poland Switzerland Spain and Sweden together with the newly opened offices in Denmark Italy and the Czech Republic to integrate the BlackBerry accessories into their portfolios. />Strax opened new offices in Denmark Italy and the Czech Republic last week. Its expanded European footprint will help it win multi-market contracts with device suppliers and network customers it claimed. />Colman said: Network operators are looking more and more at />cross border accessory fulfilment />solutions.

New UK handset brand Fly Mobile has launched pre-pay devices to UK retailers. Its first UK device the pink SL500i is available at £59.99 from Argos. Orange is also ranging the handset in black and Orange-branded as the TR1. />Fly Mobile shipped more than one-million phones to overseas markets last year. Its UK pre-pay push will gather pace over the next six months it said last week. Each pre-pay handset will include a music player memory card support camera Java applications and Bluetooth. />A spokesperson said: Fly Mobile has enjoyed huge success in the markets in which it has focussed since its launch in 2003. />We are firmly setting our sights on the UK pre-pay market. We believe there is a significant opportunity to offer feature-rich devices at a level of value for money unavailable with other brands. />Fly has recruited Simon Gregory as its vice president of UK sales and marketing. Gregory has 15 years experience of the mobile industry.

Microsoft has appointed former O2 head of data products and content Hugh Griffiths as its director of mobile. />At Microsoft Griffiths will be responsible for the overall strategy and direction of the online services groups mobile division in the UK. />A Microsoft spokesman said Griffiths appointment was the next stage in the development of Microsofts mobile strategy to launch mobile versions of its services including Windows Live services like Hotmail and Messenger MSN portal and Live Search. />It follows recent announcements with telecom providers Vodafone and France Telecom to deliver next generation messaging services based on the Window Live Messenger platform. />Griffiths said: These are exciting times and I am delighted to be leading the next stage of Microsofts mobile strategy. />At O2 Griffiths was a key player in the development of O2s online mobile data and content offerings.