(25 April 2009 5:35 pm)

MUMBAI:European mobile telecom service provider Orange and the Wikimedia Foundation have inked a strategic partnership with each other that stands to mutually benefit each organization’s users by extending the way people can access free knowledge.

Orange will initially provide customers in France, the UK, Spain and Poland with access to co-branded content from Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organisation behind the web encyclopedia Wikipedia.

The partnership activities include:

- Creatingspecific Wikipedia encyclopedia channels on Orange mobile and web portals.

- Enriching sections of the Orange web and mobile portals with links to relevant Wikipedia information.

-Developing mobile and web-based widgets which enable customers to access Wikipedia content directly from their Orange mobile or web homepage.

The second phase of the agreement will see the two organisations cooperate to create new services drawing on Orange’s skills as a communication provider across mobile, internet and television. Additionally, the partnership will also be rolled out across the rest of Orange’s European footprint.

Orange audience line of business executive VP Paul François Fournier says, “At Orange we are committed to giving people maximum access to the widest range of digital technologies and to simplifying the way people use these technologies to access information. By bringing our customers a new way to access content from Wikipedia, one of the world’s most recognised and popular internet brands, we are delivering on this commitment.”

Adds Wikimedia Foundation executive director Sue Gardner, “Orange’s leadership in mobile and focus on innovation makes them an ideal partner to help us extend our reach. The Foundation welcomes partnerships that help us carry out our mission and respect the valuable work of our community.”

This partnership is part of Orange’s strategy to provide content to its customers that will increase the reach of Wikimedia services, particularly in the European mobile market and at a time when mobile internet usage is soaring. Through this partnership Orange is also supporting the Wikimedia Foundation’s mission of enhancing and expanding the reach of Wikipedia and other collaborative knowledge projects to new users.

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