Myriad and Orange Telkom Kenya launch; Facebook for USSD service Dienstag, 18. Juni 2013 - 18:00

• Myriad and Orange look to bring the benefits of mobile social networking to millions of non–data users in Kenya
• Country represents sixth Orange affiliate in Africa that Myriad provides Facebook for USSD

ZURICH, Switzerland – 18 June, 2013 – Myriad Group AG (SIX: MYRN), the company creating and connecting communities across mobile and TV, today announces that Telkom Kenya launched its Facebook for USSD service, known locally as Facebook BilaNet. Telkom Kenya represents the sixth Orange affiliate that has launched the Facebook for USSD service in Africa. Kenya is joined by Egypt, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali and Uganda as countries where Facebook for USSD is made available through Myriad and Orange.

Myriad’s partnership with Orange and its African subsidiaries, including Telkom Kenya, unlocks the door to Facebook for millions of customers in emerging markets who want access to Facebook on their mobile without having to buy a data plan or a smartphone.

Myriad’s Facebook for USSD is a ubiquitous, text‐based social mobile messaging service that provides users simple, low‐cost access to social networking via mobile https://apps.facebook.com/facebook_for_ussd. Accessible on any mobile device, subscribers can easily connect to Facebook without having to purchase a data plan, upgrade to a new mobile phone or even download an app.

Stephen Dunford, CEO of Myriad Group, commented: “We are delighted to be able to support Telkom Kenya as it, in common with other Orange Group companies, looks to bring new mobile Internet based services to customers in Africa. Telkom Kenya is focused on connecting its customers to the Internet in simple affordable ways. With our Facebook for USSD service, Telkom Kenya’s customers are able to join the world’s largest online community at the lowest possible cost. We are pleased to be able once again to work with Facebook and Orange to bring this service to the market, and in so doing reinforce our position as a leading partner in mobile social networking and messaging for both companies.”

Telkom Kenya’s CEO, Mickael Ghossein, commented “We believe that this is a strategic partnership with Myriad, a leading player in this space to increase the availability of Facebook to our customers and meet their demands. We are committed to providing our customers with cost effective products and solutions that meet their dynamic and diverse needs and see Facebook BilaNet, as a core element of this strategy. This service will enhance the user experience for our customers who have been limited to only voice and SMS functionality on their handsets.”

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