*[image: Baidu.JPG]*
* *
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*Orange and Baidu partner exclusively on an enhanced mobile browser for
customers in Africa and the Middle East*
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*Exclusive partnership to help drive mobile data adoption in markets where
Orange is seeing an increased demand for mobile data and smartphones*
**- **Baidu signs its first global operator agreement with Orange, on
an exclusive basis, to co-develop an enhanced mobile browser designed for
emerging markets
**- **The new browser, available in Arabic, English, and a French
version in development, will be pre-installed and available via download on
Android devices across Orange’s African footprint in 2013
**- **Demand for smartphones and the mobile web is on the rise across
Africa & the Middle East – in Egypt, Orange has seen demand for Android
devices double in the second half of 2012
**- **The Orange-Baidu browser will provide a more affordable and
richer browsing experience for customers across AMEA due to its enhanced
data compression capabilities (up to 90% of compression), and one-click
access to web-based apps and internet services
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**********************PARIS, France,** January 14, 2013/ *– *Orange (
http://www.orange.com) has signed a strategic partnership – on an exclusive
basis – with Baidu, the Chinese internet company, to develop a co-branded
internet browser for smartphone customers in Africa, the Middle East and
Asia (AMEA). The partnership marks the first time Baidu has signed such an
agreement with a global operator, and supports Orange and Baidu’s aim to
make the mobile web available for all in emerging markets.
Mobile internet usage in Africa is increasing rapidly as Orange continues
to deploy 3G networks and make more low-cost smartphones available,
customers have been steadily moving from basic feature phones towards more
low-cost Android smartphones. Orange, which has a mobile customer base in
AMEA of nearly 80 million customers, has continued to see its smartphone
user base in AMEA increasing, for example the demand for Android devices in
Egypt has doubled in H2 2012.
The new Orange and Baidu browser offers a highly customisable but simple
interface for customers in AMEA, enabling them to access web-based apps and
internet services unique to Baidu and Orange, as well as services like
Wikipedia, Facebook or Twitter, amongst others. Customers benefit from a
new, feature rich user interface that provides one-click access to all of
their preferred local and global services but also benefit from a browser
that is much faster and more data efficient compared to other browsers,
reducing the amount of data consumed by 30-90% depending on the types of
services and files accessed.
Orange and Baidu have already developed an Arabic and English browser is
launching for Mobinil customers today, and both companies are now working
to launch French versions of the browser for countries across Orange’s
African & Middle East footprint.
Marc Rennard, senior executive vice president for Orange activities across
Africa and the Middle East, commented: “The appetite for mobile internet
services is very strong in Africa, for example demand for Android devices
in Egypt has doubled in the second half of this year. Price and access have
been a barrier to entry, but partnering with innovative companies like
Baidu provide unique solutions that give our customers affordable access to
all the services they desire without compromising on features or
ease-of-use. Building on the partnerships we’ve signed with major brands
such as Wikipedia and Facebook in AMEA, we continue to innovate in Africa
and honour our commitment to make the internet accessible to all customers
across our footprint.”
Hu Yong, general manager of Baidu’s International Business Unit, said:
“Baidu’s success has been built on developing technologies, products and
services appropriate for China, the world’s largest emerging market. We’re
now bringing that experience to bear in other markets now enjoying rapid
growth. Working with Orange in the Middle East and Africa, Baidu hopes to
contribute meaningfully to the region’s growth by making the mobile
internet easier than ever to use.
*About Orange*
France Telecom-Orange (http://www.orange.com) is one of the world’s leading
telecommunications operators with sales of 45.3 billion euros for 2011 and
has 170,000 employees worldwide at 30 September 2012, including 105,000
employees in France. Present in 33 countries, the Group has a total
customer base of 227 million customers at 30 September 2012, including 169
million mobile customers and 15 million broadband internet (ADSL, fibre)
customers worldwide. Orange is one of the main European operators for
mobile and broadband internet services and, under the brand Orange Business
Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication
services to multinational companies.
With its industrial project, “conquests 2015”, Orange is simultaneously
addressing its employees, customers and shareholders, as well as the
society in which the company operates, through a concrete set of action
plans. These commitments are expressed through a new vision of human
resources for employees; through the deployment of a network infrastructure
upon which the Group will build its future growth; through the Group’s
ambition to offer a superior customer experience thanks in particular to
improved quality of service; and through the acceleration of international
development.
France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris (compartment A)
and on the New York Stock Exchange.****
For more information (on the internet and on your mobile): www.orange.com,
www.orange-business.com, www.orange-innovation.tv or to follow us on
Twitter: @presseorange & @orangegrouppr****
Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this
material are trade marks of Orange Brand Services Limited, Orange France or
France Telecom.
*About Baidu*
Baidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. As a
technology-based media company, Baidu aims to provide the best and most
equitable way for people to find what they’re looking for online. In
addition to serving individual Internet search users, Baidu provides an
effective platform for businesses to reach potential customers. Baidu’s
ADSs trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “BIDU”.
Currently, ten ADSs represent one Class A ordinary share.