ORANGE SA AND MICROSOFT DELIVER MSN MESSENGER AND HOTMAIL SERVICES TO OVER 35m ORANGE CUSTOMERS

ORANGE SA AND MICROSOFT DELIVER MSN MESSENGER AND HOTMAIL SERVICES TO OVER 35m ORANGE CUSTOMERSOver 35 million Orange customers to gain access to MSN Messenger and Hotmail via text · Available on a wide range of handsets and operating systems – no need to buy a new phone · Orange is first operator to offer MSN services Europe-wide PRESS RELEASE20 May 2003. Orange SA, one of the world’s largest mobile communications companies, and MSN, the world’s most popular network of internet sites and services, today announced that they have delivered MSN Messenger and Hotmail to Orange customers, extending the range of messaging services available to them across Europe.Over 35 million Orange customers will be able to use MSN Messenger and Hotmail via their existing Orange phone. Customers in Switzerland, the Netherlands, UK and Denmark all have access to the services, with Belgian* and French customers due to benefit from the service by the end of the year. Orange customers will now be able to have ‘real time’ instant messaging text conversations with a group of friends via their Orange phone. They can also find out which “buddies” are signed into their MSN Messenger accounts and chat with them over instant messaging text. Additionally, PC users can see at a glance which of their MSN Messenger ‘buddies’ are available on their mobiles. Orange customers also benefit from the opportunity to receive text alerts when an email has landed in their MSN Hotmail inbox. Customers will be able to view their e-mails via text message and will also be able to respond to messages and forward them to other addresses. Orange is the first operator to offer MSN services Europe-wide. The deal was enabled by MSN mobile data partner MIGway and extends MSN’s reach of its mobile Internet communications services to 110 million users in 15 countries across the EMEA region. Richard Brennan, Executive Vice-President for Orange World, responsible for driving data services across the Orange group, said: “Today’s announcement with MSN is yet another Orange first, with over 35 million of our customers now able to access the services across Europe. Our customers now have even more choices to communicate, helping them stay in touch with their friends, family and colleagues however they wish. The addition of MSN Messenger and Hotmail to our services portfolio builds on our existing community applications such as group voice messaging, group text messaging and conference calling.“We have entered an exciting and critical stage in the new mobile landscape. With the roll-out of new technologies, platforms are being delivered that enable us to offer exciting new services to our customers seamlessly across our footprint. No longer do our customers have to be tied at home to their PC - they can take their world with them.“This is the latest in a line of partnerships that we have announced in the run-up to our strategic presentation in June, cementing our commitment to our customers by bringing them the services they want whenever and wherever they are. Orange has made the decision to provide these types of services across our existing customer base.”Vassili le Moigne, MSN mobile business manager, said: “The opportunity to deliver MSN services to an additional 35 million customers in Europe is a significant step for us. This announcement with Orange across several countries fits perfectly with our strategy of developing MSN’s Internet software subscriptions business and generating incremental ARPU for partners, whilst delivering best-of-breed services to mobile users across Europe”. “Smart software is at the heart of great mobile services and this is Microsoft’s legacy and strength. MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger over text are just the first step of the evolution of truly integrated mobile services. We are developing new devices and services such as Pocket MSN for Microsoft-powered smartphones and pocket PCs, that will see mobile content and services become a more seamless and natural extension of our experience on the PC. Through successful partnerships, we’ll continue to develop new services and devices to deliver the best Internet software services to consumers any time, any place and on any device”.