Orange has signed a strategic partnership with Google to offer Google Mobile App to its customers in Europe. This multi-year agreement claims to blend the best content and search innovations from both companies. It provides users one-click access to Google Mobile App through the Orange homescreen that makes accessing mobile search and geo-location services easier than ever. The app offers advanced search features and easy access to the Orange mobile portal along with other Google products and services.
Orange will release Google Mobile App with a phased approach and make it available for Orange Signature phones that are customized to offer enhanced user experience. For now, Orange offers instant access to Google Search from the homescreen on Signature Android handsets with other services like Orange TV. Users in the UK and France will be offered Google mobile search results with relevant content from Orange’s own mobile portal and combined results from both companies for the first time.
The Orange Signature Android series, including LG Eve (France, Spain), HTC Tattoo (France, UK, Spain) and HTC Hero (France) will also feature specially designed services like the Orange Email Wizard from this month. Orange Email Wizard allows users put together and choose mobile email services like Google Mail in one manageable location.
Raoul Roverato, Executive Vice-President for New Growth Business, Orange, says, “People want easy access to the best content and services on the Web on any screen. At Orange, we have developed a range of applications that our mobile customers can directly access from their homescreen, such as Orange TV, Orange Games, My Social Place or My Social Life and the Orange mobile portal.” Raoul adds, “This partnership will also let us give customers direct access to the best Google applications across a large part of our Signature portfolio, combining the strength of two leading brands to create and deliver the kind of content people want to find and use on their mobile.”
Vic Gundotra, Vice-President of Engineering at Google, adds: “Google Mobile App makes it easier than ever for people to find and use information that matters to them when they’re on the move. Partnering with Orange is a great opportunity for us to provide their customers across Europe with instant access to the web.”
Orange Signature devices operating on Symbian S60, RIM (BlackBerry) and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile will also support Google Mobile App in future. The app designed for these platforms will include services like Orange mobile portal, Google News, Google Maps and Google Mail. Orange customers will enjoy greater access to content and tools for day-to-day services. They can also download mobile applications from the Orange Application Shop.
Olaf Swantee, Senior Executive Vice President Personal Communication Services Orange, says: “Through this partnership we continue to deliver on our promise to make the mobile Internet even more pervasive to our customers. As the first operator to partner with Google in this way, we are setting a benchmark for openness in the mobile industry that inspires our customers, builds loyalty and helps grow our business.”
The Google Mobile App has been revised to blend Orange’s own mobile results to deliver precise content exclusively available to Orange customers.