Orange (EE) Scrap Free UK Email Service for Mobile and Broadband Users

Customers of communications provider EE (BT), specifically those who still use an old Orange based email account (Orange.net, Wanadoo.co.uk, Fsmail.net etc.), will be unhappy to learn that the operator has announced the forthcoming closure of this free service on 31st May 2017.

During the early years of the Internet it was fairly common for broadband ISPs and mobile operators to provide new customers with access to a free email service, but this trend has been in decline for some years (the advent of free email providers and Internet Messaging services has made it less important) and today very few residential mobile and broadband providers offer such a feature. Meanwhile those ISPs that do still offer email will often do it quietly (i.e. they won’t openly advertise the feature).

Never the less many people, particularly those who rarely ever change provider, have come to rely on such addresses and they can often also be used as Usernames (Login IDs) for other online services. As such the removal of a free email service can create quite a significant headache.

Statement on the Email Closure

Why are we closing Orange Email?

Since Orange Email was first introduced, a wide variety of providers have launched offering free email services with more advanced functionality. As a result, the number of Orange Email users has been in decline.

We have therefore decided to close Orange Email on 31 May 2017, so you can move to a better email experience, and we can focus on providing our customers with the best possible products and services.
Which email addresses are affected?

The addresses affected by the closure are:

Orange.net
Orangehome.co.uk
Wanadoo.co.uk
Freeserve.co.uk
Fsbusiness.co.uk
Fslife.co.uk
Fsmail.net
Fsworld.co.uk
Fsnet.co.uk
new.labour.org.uk

We’ve long recommended that broadband and mobile subscribers try to keep their email and Internet access providers separate, which makes it easier to switch suppliers and keeps you safe from issues like the one above. The good news is that today’s market is chocked full of dedicated email providers, many of which are free (Gmail, Hotmail etc.) and some will even allow you to use your own domain name for a small fee.

Unfortunately the above will be of little comfort to those affected by EE’s decision. On the upside the operator has at least given subscribers plenty of notice, which is in stark contrast to some other providers that only gave a few weeks’ notice (the Vodafone / Demon example).

Sadly EE / Orange UK have not offered any alternative solutions of their own, although unofficially they do appear to recommend switching to Google’s Gmail service and even include a guide to show how it can be done (check the related information page).

Credits to members on Thinkbroadband’s Forum for spotting this.