Orange 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.

– 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