Wikipedia Strikes Mobile, Internet Content Deal With Orange
This story was written by Staci D. Kramer.
One of Europe's largest phone carriers, France Telecom's Orange, has reached a deal with Wikimedia to provide its users with co-branded content. The content will be offered through specific Wikipedia channels on Orange's mobile and internet portals, the two announced today. Orange will place ads alongside Wikipedia content and the two will share the ad revenues. The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, but Wikimedia called the deal "an important new revenue stream".
Orange will also place links to relevant Wikipedia content through its web and mobile portals, as well as develop mobile and web-based widgets that customers can use to access Wikipedia content directly from their Orange mobile or web homepage. The partnership will be rolled out first in France, the UK and Spain, and across the rest of Orange's European territories at a later date. At an unspecified later time, the two plan to roll out phase two: a new service involving mobile, internet and television. This may not be the last deal of its kind for Wikimedia. The foundation said the deal was not an exclusive one and that it wanted "to develop a large and diverse global network of partners, supporters, participants and friends."
By Staci D. Kramer