Orange is considering putting customer relationship management (CRM) software on handheld devices to keep its business sales staff better informed.

The mobile phone operator has been using Salesforce.com hosted CRM software on laptops since last year and is testing it on mobile devices.

Customer data can now be prepared more easily for input into Orange's corporate systems, which were standardised following its acquisition by France Telecom in 2000.

Neil Laidler, business development manager at Orange, says putting the software on a mobile device will make it easier for staff - all of whom work from home - to input customer information and provide access to up-to-date sales data.

'All our systems are being updated in a huge programme, moving to the same platform,' said Laidler. 'This software can be rolled in as the front end into the new CRM project when it's ready.

'We needed to bring in a system that would be standalone to Orange's existing CRM system as it was being changed out.'

The business salesforce can use the hosted software anywhere over Orange's 3G network to register, qualify and track leads.