Europe : Orange announced its entrance to the UK internet radio market with a wireless internet radio device called Liveradio. The launch extends Orange’s provision of telecoms services for the home, allowing it to offer a complete end-to-end internet radio solution.

Liveradio is a wireless internet radio device which gives broadband customers access to over 4,000 local, national and international internet radio stations. Already a success in France, Orange is now giving consumers in the UK an opportunity to enjoy their or unique music experience with the product.

The radio works in conjunction with the specially designed Liveradio website: http://www.orange.co.uk/liveradio. Once registered on the site, users can customise their presets, create specialist folders for easy reference and add the stations they want to listen to via a simple ‘drag and drop’ function.

What’s more, if the song being listened to is shown on the Liveradio’s screen, users can simply press the ‘bookmark’ button on the radio and the details of the track are added to the ‘My Favourites’ section on the Liveradio website, along with an option to buy from the Orange Music Store*. By clicking on the ‘buy’ link provided, Orange Music Store will be presented in a separate window allowing the customer to purchase the track if available for £0.99 from a catalogue of over 1 million tracks. Orange mobile customers can also take advantage of the unique dual download service resulting in them instantly receiving the track on their mobile for no additional cost.

Figures revealed earlier this year show that more than eight million people listen to internet-based radio every week in the UK (source: Rajar 2008).

Mike Newnham, Vice President of Home, Orange UK said: “The internet radio market in the UK is growing at an increasingly rapid rate and Orange with its home internet pedigree is well placed to be part of it. The Liveradio device we’ve launched today is testament to our ability to offer consumers a multi-platformed entertainment experience, and is the first of many such products Orange plans to offer for the home. “

The Liveradio is priced at £99.99 and is available immediately from www.orange.co.uk/liveradio or from 1st June at selected Orange retail stores.