2008

Grand Circle Travel Renews Managed Global Network with Orange Business Services

$1.3 million, four-year deal to connect 19 worldwide offices

Orange Business Services today announced that Grand Circle Travel, the leader in international travel, adventure and discovery for Americans age 50 and older, has renewed its managed global network under a four-year, $1.3 million deal.

An MPLS-based IP VPN handles the company’s messaging and data flow, including travel reservations, tour itineraries, billing and logistics. Superior customer service through the network has allowed Grand Circle to maintain a 90% customer retention rate and an early return on investment.

Under the terms of the new agreement, Grand Circle Travel is converging its voice and data services and will explore with Orange Business Services a possible maritime satellite solution for its riverboat operations in Europe and Egypt. Grand Circle Travel also relies on Orange for consulting services and staff augmentation.

The scope of the network has been a key asset in supporting Grand Circle Travel’s worldwide business operations – which include 3,000 associates and 45 international offices in 18 countries spread across the Americas, Asia, South Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Middle East – serving more than 160,000 travelers annually.

“A lot of complexities and logistics are attached to running an international travel operation of our magnitude,” said Tom Cauchon, vice president of WWIT, Grand Circle Travel.  “Orange Business Services has proven itself beyond our own expectations, removing these challenges from the equation to effortlessly tie our business together across the globe.”

“Grand Circle Travel is indicative of an overall trend in business where success is driven by a company’s ability to tap every corner of the globe,” said Diana Leonard, senior vice president of the Americas, Orange Business Services.  “Only a global communications provider has the resources and scale to match this new business reality.  Like Grand Circle Travel, more businesses are choosing Orange Business Services to bring the rest of the world within their reach.”

About Grand Circle Travel
Established in 1958, Grand Circle Corporation is the leader in international travel, adventure, and discovery for Americans aged 50 and older. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., the company has 45 offices throughout Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, the Americas, and Africa and offers more than 100 river cruises, barge trips, small-ship ocean cruises, extended stay vacations, escorted tours, and adventure vacations worldwide. Since 1992, Grand Circle Foundation has donated more than $30 million to educational, humanitarian and cultural organizations around the world.

About Orange
Orange is the key brand of France Telecom, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. France Telecom serves more than 172 million customers in five continents as of March 31, 2008, of which two thirds are Orange customers. The Group had consolidated sales of 52.9 billion euros in 2007 (13 billion euros at March 31, 2008). As of March 31, 2008, the Group had 111.9 million mobile customers and 12 million broadband internet (ADSL) customers.

Launched in June 2005, the NExT program (New Experience in Telecommunications) will enable the Group to pursue its transformation as an integrated operator and make France Telecom the benchmark for new telecommunications services in Europe. In 2006, Orange became the Group's single brand for Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the company operates, and Orange Business Services the banner for services offered to businesses worldwide. France Telecom is the number three mobile operator and the number one provider of broadband internet services in Europe and one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.

France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on Euronext Paris and on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more information : www.orange.com, www.francetelecom.com, www.orange-business.com

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Personal Communications Services Limited.