ORANGE AND SIEMENS LAUNCH NEW MACHINE-TO-MACHINE PARTNERSHIP
 
Konica Minolta first to deploy Machine-to-Machine solution from Orange and Siemens.

3GSM World Congress, Cannes, 14 February, 2005:
Orange and the Siemens Communications Group today announce a new partnership to develop and market vertical sector machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions for mobile communication across Europe. Konica Minolta has already signed-up to a joint M2M solution from Orange and Siemens for 3,000 photocopiers throughout France.

With the addition of this partnership, Orange now reaches 90% of the total M2M equipment marketplace (1), making Orange the largest provider of M2M solutions globally.

Siemens will be providing its wireless M2M module for the Orange M2M Connect platform. The Siemens TC45 module has been certified by Orange to work with M2M connect, and has been awarded the M2M Connected certification. M2M Connect from Orange is the first and only combined network and data platform on which vertical applications for M2M solutions can be supported. It removes the complexity when integrating a variety of different partners to make the whole process of building and managing M2M solutions simpler, quicker and cheaper.

Siemens utilises BEEP technology, which provides stronger security measures and improved data compression in the M2M modules and boxes on the M2M platform, also enables both companies to offer a "plug and play" solution so businesses can deploy M2M solutions simpler, faster and more cost effectively.

Philippe Bernard, Executive Vice President of Orange Business Solutions, says: "Together with Siemens, we are looking initially at the opportunities within the fleet management and mobile healthcare space. There is a tremendous need within these industries to improve their monitoring capability to drive efficiency and service delivery.

This is a very exciting time for Orange and we're very pleased to have joined forces with Siemens to deliver this innovative solution. Our M2M partnership is delivering tangible benefits to business globally and we are in a very strong position to drive M2M adoption even further."

Jose Costa e Silva, President of the Wireless Modules division at Siemens Communications, comments: "We are delighted to have joined forces with Orange. Specialized in offering complete solutions for machine-to-machine communication within M2M One, our new line of business, we see a great future working hand-in-hand with Orange to deliver exciting technology to our customers."

Bernard continues: "M2M is central to our strategy for the business market and is a key differentiator for us. Businesses are looking for simpler M2M solutions that do not require complicated implementation and high costs. This partnership allows us to respond to that and offer M2M solutions that deliver value quickly and effectively."

Konica Minolta, a global leader in photo imaging and office machines, is one example of where M2M technology is being successfully implemented by Orange and Siemens. Konica Minolta has deployed a solution using the Siemens wireless module and Orange network in 3,000 photocopiers throughout France.

This M2M solution allows Konica Minolta to produce reports on numbers of copies made, identify and receive automatic alerts for machine faults, and manage timely replacement of parts, enabling faster and more efficient machine management.

Daniel Mathieu, Marketing Director of Konica Minolta says, "The Orange and Siemens solution is already delivering results, both for us and our customers. We are currently negotiating wider deployment of the solution in France and ultimately throughout Europe in order to improve efficiency and help us deliver enhanced service quality for all our customers, and drive down maintenance costs."

Orange and Siemens will be demonstrating the Konica M2M solution at 3GSM World Congress 2005 in Cannes. The demonstration will be shown at the Orange Pavilion located close to the Palais des Festivals.

Notes to Editors
Orange and wirefree and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange PCS. The Orange group is one of the world's largest mobile communications companies and a subsidiary of the France Telecom Group, with operations in 16 countries acros s Europe and beyond. It provides a broad range of personal communications services, including Orange GSM1800 services and other digital cellular telephone services.Within the Orange Group, the Orange brand operates in the UK, France, Switzerland, Romania, Slovakia, Thailand, the Ivory Coast, the Dominican Republic, Cameroon, the Netherlands, Botswana, and Madagascar. The Orange group also has controlled operations in Belgium (Mobistar). The Orange group has a joint controlling interest in Egypt (MobiNil) and minority interests in Portugal (Optimus) and in Austria (One). As at the end of December 2004, Orange was the largest mobile operator in both the UK with over 14.2 million active customers, and France with over 21.24 million registered customers. As at the end of December 2004, Orange controlled companies had almost 54 million customers worldwide. Orange, along with TIM, Telefonica and T-Mobile, is a founding member of the FreeMove alliance. Further information about Orange can be found on the Orange website at www.orange.com.

Siemens Communications is one of the largest players in the global telecommunications industry. Siemens is the only provider in the market that offers its customers a full-range portfolio, from devices for end users to complex network infrastructures for enterprises and carriers as well as related services. Siemens Communications is the world's innovation leader in convergent technologies, products and services for wireless, fixed and enterprise networks. It is the largest Group within Siemens and operates in more than 160 countries around the world. In fiscal 2004 (year-end September 30), its 60,000-strong workforce posted sales of approximately 18 billion euros. More about Siemens Communications at www.siemens.com/communications.

Konica Minolta Business Solutions is a leading provider of image information products with operative bases and distributors in more than 57 countries in the EMEA region. The company places major emphasis on the document management and solution business, especially in the field of colour output, as well as on micro systems, facsimiles and related supplies. Konica Minolta Business Solutions France is a subsidiary of Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. With a total workforce of 34,710 employees worldwide, Konica Minolta Business Technologies is aiming for net sales of € 5.336 billion in fiscal 2005. 80% of the corporate sales are realised outside Japan. Building on its strong core of optical technologies developed over many years as a camera manufacturer, Konica Minolta Business Technologies aims to be a corporation offering products and services that are essential to all areas of digital imaging.

For further information, please contact:
Georgina Hart at Edelman on +44 (0) 20 7 344 1315 / georgina.hart@edelman.com
Orange: developers@orange.com
Monika Brücklmeier at Siemens on +49 (0) 89 722 39597 / monika.bruecklmeier@siemens.com

1. ABI Research: Cellular M2M Communications 2004