Demonstrating once again how developing economies are ahead in the mobile payment race, wireless provider Orange announced more than 4 million customers now use its Orange Money mobile payment service in Africa and the Middle East. Orange also said it will be launching services in Jordan and Mauritius.

First launched in Côte d'Ivoire in December 2008, Orange Money is now available to consumers in 10 countries, including Botswana, Cameroon, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger and Senegal. Orange said it eventually intends to launch Orange Money in all 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East where it provides wireless services.

"Orange Money plays an important role in driving growth in our activities in emerging markets, allowing us to contribute to the economic and social development of these countries, while improving our customers' loyalty," said Marc Rennard, Orange's executive director for EMEA operations.

Orange Money provides the unbanked with access to basic financial services through their mobile devices. Customers can transfer funds, set up a savings account and make payments using the services.

Orange said the growth of its services in the countries where it operates indicates a strong consumer appetite for a simple and practical mobile payment service where people have limited access to bank accounts but are widely equipped with mobile phones. It said Orange Money now covers 14 percent of Orange customers in the 10 countries where it is deployed. 

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