Orange, Nokia expand mobile service partnership

Orange and Nokia have extended their strategic international partnership to a three-year deal, which will include the addition of 10 new Nokia handsets to the Orange Signature range and the addition of music to a combined offer of games, advertising, maps and location-based services.

Both companies have agreed to launch a suite of integrated multimedia services on the new Nokia handsets, launching in 2H 08 across nine major markets, designed to boost the adoption of mobile digital entertainment. As part of the strategic partnership, customers will have direct access to the Orange Music Store, both Orange and NGage games, as well as Nokia Maps. Under the Orange Signature programme, all services will be integrated into the familiar Orange user interface, providing one click access to information and entertainment.

Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly work on marketing to support the launch of new devices and the development of multimedia applications. For instance, Nokia's Mobile Maps platform and GPS technology will be introduced to a wide portfolio of Nokia handsets in the Orange Signature range, allowing for navigation, location based search and advertising services.

"Combined with our leadership in mobile multimedia innovation and relationships with leading content providers, Orange believes that Nokia's devices and Ovi platform will make a powerful environment for the provision of a joint range of services," said Georges Penalver, executive VP of Orange's group strategic marketing.

"We are pleased to create this strategic partnership with Orange and believe that the combination of Signature and Ovi services will extend and enrich consumer choice," said Kai Öistämö, executive VP, devices, Nokia. "We also expect our close collaboration to extend beyond the initial focus areas of music, games, maps and advertising to include other services over time."

The two companies plan to create 10 million active Mobile Maps users on Nokia devices within the Orange footprint by 2010.