Orange’s decision to partner with Google to provide Google’s Gmail SMS Chat to the subscribers of its operating companies in the Middle East and Africa is an acknowledgement by both parties that those who live in emerging markets are just as interested in accessing Internet services as those who live in developed markets. By enabling Gmail Chat via SMS, Orange and Google are also acknowledging that SMS is a key delivery channel for internet services in emerging markets, where there is low penetration of internet-enabled PCs and of internet-enabled mobile devices.

The humble SMS will remain a significant source of revenues and traffic for mobile operators on a global basis until at least 2015, according to the latest forecasts from Informa Telecoms & Media. Global SMS revenues are forecast to rise to $136.9bn by 2015 from $105.5bn in 2010, as global SMS traffic increases from five trillion messages in 2010 to 8.7 trillion messages in 2015.

We recently conducted an exercise looking very closely at the major strategic initiatives that have been implemented by the European telco community. It was a fascinating exercise that revealed a perhaps surprising level of consensus amongst all major European telcos. Whilst the tactics in reaching the goals may vary, our analysis showed the long-term strategic priorities are shared and fall into four very clear and focused aims.

Mobile carrier Orange UK said Tuesday it is working to integrate popular social networking platform Twitter into its own service offerings, including TV as well as mobile and web.