Orange aims to become virtual personal assistant for life

Orange aims to transform itself from a mobile phone company into a "virtual personal assistant for life" as it prepares to float on the Paris and London stock exchanges.

The flotation of 15% of Orange will value the business at around 70 bn euros (£50 bn). Proceeds will be used by France Telecom to refinance its acquisition of the mobile phone firm from Vodafone, which was completed last August.