Google and Orange partner for SMS service

By Bizclik Editor

Orange and Google will team up to provide Orange customers in Niger, Cameroon, Cote d’lvoire and Guinea Conakry with their Gmail SMS Chat service.

As a result of this collaboration, Gmail users are given a quota of free text messages; the quota increases by five every time the user receives a reply from an Orange customer.

It is expected that Orange will generate significant extra traffic and revenue thanks to the partnership. Google, meanwhile, will increase its market reach. The service will become available within the next few months.

A spokesman for Orange said: "Through the development of SMS-based services that operate on all mobile networks (including GSM), Orange and Google will extend the reach of a wide range of Internet services that were previously limited to smartphone and broadband users (through 3G, CDMA, or WiMax networks) to all Orange mobile customers. Through Google SMS, African mobile customers stand to benefit from a wide range of Google services via SMS."

Orange customers in other African countries such as Kenya and Senegal can already access the service. In Senegal, almost 700,000 people used Gmail SMS Chat within six months of its launch there.

Share

Featured Articles

Abu Dhabi Airports prepares for Terminal A opening

A decade in the making, Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomes 6,000 volunteers to test operational readiness of stunning new Terminal A building

Business Chief expands portfolio with new look and coverage

Business Chief Middle East & Africa launches with fresh new look and extended coverage of the region, with exclusive executive interviews and insights

How Octopus Energy grew to become an industry giant

Octopus Energy continues to grow after a deal was agreed to acquire Shell Energy in the UK and Germany, taking its customer base to almost seven million

Perkbox CEO: How to support employees through tough times

Human Capital

How Middle East is embracing the future of digital finance

Corporate Finance

UAE Lulu Group shifts business for global growth and IPO

Corporate Finance