Orange Launches Nationwide Deployment of NFC SIM Cards with Gemalto Solution in France

Service providers will be offered a secure space on the SIM card, to manage and update their end clients' personal data, as within a vault. Orange subscribers will be able to download, activate and use NFC services on their phone and in an in every respect protected environment. They will be able to access an easily expandable wallet of new NFC applications for payments, transportation, ticketing and loyalty programs.

The way in NFC roll out in France

"Orange is leading the way in NFC roll out in France and in Europe. The UpTeq NFC solution meets Orange's qualifications at both national and group levels and our teams are on hand to support and accompany the mobile operator in its NFC strategy," added Philippe Vallée, Executive Vice President of Telecommunications at Gemalto.

France Telecom-Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with 171,000 employees worldwide, including 105,000 employees in France, and sales of 10.9 billion euros in the first three months of 2012. Present in 33 countries, the Group had a customer base of 225 million clients at 31 March 2012, including 181 million customers in accordance with the Orange brand, the Group's single brand for internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the company operates. At 31 March 2012, the Group had 166 million mobile clients and 15 million broadband internet clients worldwide. Orange is one of the main European operators for mobile and broadband internet services and, in accordance with the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.

With its industrial project, "conquests 2015", Orange is simultaneously addressing its employees, clients and shareholders, as then as the society in which the company operates, through a concrete set of action plans. These commitments are expressed through a new vision of human resources for employees; through the deployment of a network infrastructure upon which the Group will build its future growth; through the Group's ambition to offer a superior customer experience thanks in particular to improved quality of service; and through the acceleration of international development.

For more information: www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com, www.orange-technology.tv or to follow us on Twitter: @presseorange.

Gemalto is the world leader in digital security with 2011 annual earnings of €2 billion and more than 10,000 employees operating out of 74 offices and 14 Technology & Development centers in 43 countries.

The heart of our rapidly evolving digital society

We are at the heart of our rapidly evolving digital society. Billions of people worldwide increasingly want the freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain and work - anytime, everywhere - in ways that are convenient, enjoyable and secure. Gemalto delivers on their expanding needs for personal mobile services, payment security, identity protection, authenticated online services, cloud computing access, eHealthcare and eGovernment services, modern transportation solutions, M2M communication.