Keeping up momentum after its launch of NFC-based payment services, mobile operator Orange is venturing into another potentially lucrative market – vouchers.

Under a partnership with Vouchercloud, Orange UK customers will gain access to eight exclusive discount offers every month. The offers will be updated monthly.

Vouchercloud claims to be already used in over 5,000 retail chains and leisure outlets across the country, and the May offers for Orange customers include Habitat, Malmaison, Headmasters and Fitness First.

Spencer McHugh, brand director at Orange UK, said: “We are joining forces with Vouchercloud to show our appreciation to all of our mobile customers with a series of extra special deals – designed exclusively for them.”

Coupon sites are already big business in the US and the American online discount/deals market is estimated to be worth in excess of $1bn annually, with analysts BIA/Kelsey projecting a value of $3.93bn by 2015. Groupon, the leading player in the space, is planning an IPO later this year; estimates of its value vary between $15-25bn.