Orange and Baidu have entered into an agreement to launch an enhanced mobile browser for their customer base in Africa and the Middle East
Orange signed the deal with the Chinese internet company as it targets emerging markets for the new venture.
“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,” said Marc Rennard, senior executive vice president for Orange activities across Africa and the Middle East.
Mobile internet usage is also on the increase in Africa and Orange has been using 3G networks, while making more low-cost smartphones available.
Hu Yong, general manager of Baidu’s International Business Unit, stated that the company aims to achieve its goal of providing easy internet access to customers in the Africa and Middle East region.
“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.”
The new browser translates text into English and Arabic and a French version is in the process of development. It will be pre-installed and available via download on Android devices across Orange’s African markets in 2013.
Its mobile customer base in the region is able to access web-based apps and internet services unique to Baidu and Orange, as well as services like Wikipedia, Facebook andTwitter.
Customers will have a new user interface that provides easy access to both local and international services, while using a quicker browser which is more data efficient.
