Orange, T-Mobile converge networks

Orange and T-Mobile customers can now use each others' phone networks, although broadband subscribers will have to wait longer for 3G coverage, reports Top10.com.

The merger agreement has resulted in the convergence of the two individual networks. This follows the move by Orange and T-Mobile earlier this year to form a company called 'Everything Everywhere'.

Orange customers can now call and text using T-Mobile's network, and vice-versa, however, the opening up of networks for mobile broadband purposes will not occur until next year.

More than three-quarters of businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are looking to consolidate their existing IT infrastructure in the next 12 months, according to Brocade, states The Register.

Brocade's research found that 76% of enterprises consider IT consolidation to be one of the top three IT issues they face in the coming year, followed by both virtualisation and security.

Brocade says that convergence onto a single network platform will simplify networking infrastructure complexity, reduce acquisition and operational costs, and increase efficiency.

Bell, a Canadian telecommunications company, has begun rolling out a TV service that runs over its fibre-optic network, says The Star.

By year end, Bell will have the ability to offer fibre TV and fibre Internet to up to half a million households in its territory, primarily Ontario and Quebec. By 2015, the network will reach 5 million homes.

Kevin Crull, Bell's president of residential services, says: “It brings all the power of interactivity-content-convergence that you have on your PC to your TV.”