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→The Orange Brand
==The Orange Brand==
==The Orange Brand==
In 2000, France Telecom purchased Orange, a mobile phone operator based in United Kingdom owned by Vodafone AirTouch for 40.3 billion dollars. The transaction allowed the company to combine its cellular business with Orange to create the second largest mobile phone company in Europe. A major move for France Telecom to position the company as the European leader and global player in the telecommunications industry. <ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2000/05/30/deals/orange/ France Telecom to form Europe's No. 2 mobile firm after buying UK player]</ref> In 2001, France Telecom formed the Orange Telecom Plc. and sold 15% of its shares during the Initial Public Public Offering.<ref>[http://www.prweb.com/releases/Orange/Tuesday/prweb2362604.htm Orange Tuesday happy birthday to Orange Telecom which celebrates its fifteenth irthday with an unusual twist - cupcakes]</ref> In 2003, the company bought back the 13 percent minority shares it does not own worth $ 7.8 billion dollars. This decision was prompted by a bill passed by the French government granting France Telecom the option to buy out the minority shareholders of Orange and Wanadoo, the company's internet business division.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2003/BUSINESS/09/01/france.telecom.reut/ France Telecom in Orange buyout]</ref> At present, Orange has more than 144 million customers. In 2007, Milward Brown Optimor ranked the company as one of the world's most powerful brands.
In 2000, France Telecom purchased Orange, a mobile phone operator based in United Kingdom owned by Vodafone AirTouch for 40.3 billion dollars. The transaction allowed the company to combine its cellular business with Orange to create the second largest mobile phone company in Europe. A major move for France Telecom to position the company as the European leader and global player in the telecommunications industry. <ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2000/05/30/deals/orange/ France Telecom to form Europe's No. 2 mobile firm after buying UK player]</ref> In 2001, France Telecom formed the Orange Telecom Plc. and sold 15% of its shares during the Initial Public Public Offering.<ref>[http://www.prweb.com/releases/Orange/Tuesday/prweb2362604.htm Orange Tuesday happy birthday to Orange Telecom which celebrates its fifteenth irthday with an unusual twist - cupcakes]</ref> In 2003, the company bought back the 13 percent minority shares it does not own worth $ 7.8 billion dollars. This decision was prompted by a bill passed by the French government granting France Telecom the option to buy out the minority shareholders of Orange and Wanadoo, the company's internet business division.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2003/BUSINESS/09/01/france.telecom.reut/ France Telecom in Orange buyout]</ref> At present, Orange has more than 144 million customers. In 2007, Milward Brown Optimor ranked the company as one of the world's most powerful brands.
==Wanadoo==
In 1996, France Telecom entered the internet business by launching Wanadoo, a wholly-owned subsidiary to serve as internet service provider (ISP). The company managed the PagesJaunes, an online yellow pages. In 1997, the company partnered with [[Microsoft]]'s MSN to compete with AOL in France. When MSN decided to exit the French market in 1998, Wanadoo absorbed its subscribers. This made the company the leading internet service provider in France.<ref>[http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/99/Wanadoo-S-A.html Reference for Business: Wanadoo Company Profile]</ref> The following year, the company purchased Alapage.com, an online retail store selling books, videos and music. The company expanded in Spain, Netherlands and Belgium. In 2000, the company was listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange. During the same year, the company also acquired Marcopoly, a home appliance and electronics company. The following year, the company acquired Freeserve, an ISP based in United Kingdom. Freeserve was re-launched as Wanadoo, UK.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4474657/French-Wanadoo-buys-Freeserve.html French Wanadoo Buys Freeserve]</ref> This was succeeded by its acquisition of EresMas, an ISP and portal in Spain.<ref>
[http://www.allbusiness.com/technology/internet-technology/218781-1.html Wanadoo acquires EresMas to become 2nd largest ISP in Europe]</ref>
In 2003, the company sold its Belgian ISP subsidiary to Tiscali, Pan-European ISP for 6.5 million euros.<ref>[http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240049452/Tiscali-buys-Wanadoo-Belgium Tiscali buys Wanadoo Belgium]</ref> In 2004, France Telecom decided to buy out the minority shares of Wanadoo's investors to gain full control of the company.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3512645.stm France Telecom's Wanadoo buyout]</ref> The French Stock Exchange approved France Telecom's plan. The company's regained full control of its ISP subsidiary.<ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/03/09/france_telecom_cleared_to_buy/ France Telecom cleared to buy back Wanadoo]</ref> In 2006, France Telecom re-branded Wanadoo as Orange Broadband.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/may/22/newmedia.marketingandpr Wanadoo rebrands as Orange Broadband]</ref>
==French Government Ends Majority Control Over France Telecom==
==French Government Ends Majority Control Over France Telecom==