Orange, a brand of France Telecom, has formed a mobile and internet partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization which operates Wikipedia.
According to Orange, this partnership will expand the reach of Wikimedia content through co-branded channels on Orange’s mobile and web portals. The two partners will work together to develop new services and features around content from Wikipedia.
Under the partnership, Orange will initially provide customers in France, the UK, Spain and Poland with access to co-branded content from the Wikimedia Foundation.
Partnership activities include: creating specific Wikipedia 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.
Phase two of the agreement will see the two organizations co-operate to create a range of simple but new services drawing on Orange’s skills as a total communications provider across mobile, internet and television, the two companies said. In addition, the partnership will be rolled out across the rest of Orange’s European footprint.
Sue Gardner, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, said: The Wikimedia Foundation is dedicated to spreading knowledge to as many people as possible, in as many ways as possible. Orange’s leadership in mobile and focus on innovation makes them an ideal partner to help us extend our reach. Wikimedia Foundation welcomes partnerships that help us carry out our mission and that respect the valuable contributions of the Wikimedia community.