Orange has announced a residential fixed/mobile convergence service to go live in the UK later this year. Called Unique, the service will be available to customers who take both broadband and mobile contracts from Orange.

This residential service provides competition for BT’s Fusion package, which allows users to connect through a Bluetooth wireless connection and have calls routed through BT’s broadband infrastructure. In contrast to BT, Orange will use Wi-Fi connections to route calls through its broadband service. Users will not need to upgrade to the 8Mbit/s service recently introduce by Orange across upgraded exchanges.

Current Analysis analyst Sandra O'Boyle said, "The service is essentially the same as BT Fusion, so they [Orange] will come in for some flak for marketing it as Unique, but the concept of cheaper calls at home is a good one, as is the move towards a single phone number."

The new service will also require dual-mode handsets, including the Nokia 6136, which Orange said will be free to users signing up for the service. Users can have six Unique phones per home and Orange said that up to three people can make Wi-Fi phone calls simultaneously, even if the web is also being accessed.

BT’s Corporate Fusion for businesses is slated to launch early next year, and Orange said that it will have a similar service at around the same time. 

Orange prompts customers to leave their details to be informed when the system will be available. Pricing will start from £50 per month.