2008

Hong Kong and Paris, June 24, 2008

 

 

Tiens Group has awarded Orange Business Services a three-year global networking contract. The agreement demonstrates Orange Business Services’ unique proposition as a global integrated communications provider.

 

Tiens Group is a multinational company specializing in retail, tourism, finance, international trade and e-business with more than 5,000 employees in 110 countries and 16 million-plus customers worldwide.

 

“Since the establishment of the Tiens Group in 1995, we have successfully evolved ourselves and stayed in the forefront of the global direct selling industry,” said Li Jinyuan, founder and CEO of Tiens Group. “With the help of Orange Business Services, we are able to increase network management capability, enhance employee productivity, address customers’ needs and dramatically improve the quality of information access from our partners and agents through Orange Business Services’ advanced IP VPN technology.”  

 

Under the agreement, Tiens Group will be able to rely on Orange Business Services’ global network to consolidate IT infrastructure, enhance network performance and further integrate global resources cost effectively.

 

The network, based on Multi-protocol Label Switching technology, provides a standardized technology infrastructure that will enable Tiens Group to integrate their global network, applications and devices, evolving their global communication infrastructure into an integrated platform based on Internet Protocol. In addition, Orange Business Services will provide Tiens Group comprehensive network management services including Web hosting, application acceleration and WAN optimization solutions across China, Asia Pacific, Europe and South America.

 

“We are pleased to offer our customers the most comprehensive yet affordable solutions to improve productivity with global standards,” said Wang Chao, country manager, China, Orange Business Services. “The agreement with Tiens Group is a strong demonstration of our commitment to deliver best-in-class solutions that can increase operating efficiency for Chinese enterprises doing business globally.”

 

Founded in 1995, Tiens Group Co., Ltd. ("Tiens Group") entered the international market in 1997, was successfully listed on NASDAQ in September 2003, and formally entered into the AMEX in April 2005. Tiens is a multinational group specializing in retail, tourism, finance, international trade and e-business. With a business covering over 190 countries and regions, Tiens has branches in 110 countries and regions, and has established strategic alliances with world-class enterprises from over 20 countries. By developing health food, health care, beauty care and home care products, Tiens Group offers a high quality lifestyle with health, happiness, beauty and affluence to over 16 million consumers worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.tiens.com.

 

 

Orange is the key brand of France Telecom, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. France Telecom serves more than 172 million customers in five continents as of March 31, 2008, of which two thirds are Orange customers. The Group had consolidated sales of 52.9 billion euros in 2007 (13 billion euros at March 31, 2008). As of March 31, 2008, the Group had 111.9 million mobile customers and 12 million broadband internet (ADSL) customers.

 

Launched in June 2005, the NExT program (New Experience in Telecommunications) will enable the Group to pursue its transformation as an integrated operator and make France Telecom the benchmark for new telecommunications services in Europe. In 2006, Orange became the Group's single brand for Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the company operates, and Orange Business Services the banner for services offered to businesses worldwide. France Telecom is the number three mobile operator and the number one provider of broadband internet services in Europe and one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.

 

France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on Euronext Paris and on the New York Stock Exchange.