France Telecom Offers Free Facebook to Emerging-Market Customers

France Telecom SA, the owner of the Orange mobile brand, will sell mobile phones with unlimited access to Facebook in eastern Europe and Africa, as it seeks to drive Internet services in faster-growing markets.

France Telecom will sell three devices built by Alcatel Lucent SA, in Romania and markets across Africa, as part of a package offering free access to Facebook’s services, including instant messaging, said Patrick Remy, vice president of devices. France Telecom, under Chief Executive Officer Stephane Richard, is seeking to expand in Africa through acquisitions and additional data offerings to counter sluggish European markets where the company is selling some assets.