Press releases/Telefonica and Wikimedia partner February 2010

Telefónica and Wikimedia Foundation Partner to Advance Learning and Increase Access to Free Knowledge
MADRID, February 1, 2010 — Wikimedia Foundation and Telefónica today announced a strategic partnership to improve access to Wikimedia educational and informational content in Latin America and Europe. The agreement will expand the reach of Wikimedia’s projects, including Wikipedia, on multiple platforms through the development of customized applications for Telefónica’s web portals, wireless handsets and television properties. “Telefónica has enormous reach in key territories, particularly Latin America, which will enable us to provide free knowledge to more people in more places,” said Sue Gardner, Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation. “Telefónica is an ideal partner and with its help, we will gain access to millions of new users – expanding the reach and impact of the Wikimedia Foundation and the projects developed by our volunteers around the world.” Both Wikimedia and Telefónica reach hundreds of millions of people around the world. Through this partnership, Telefónica will develop co-branded services, offering its customers quick and simple access to the information created by Wikimedia's network of 100,000 international volunteers. The services will be available in all countries in which Telefónica operates. The two organizations will also work on the development of new applications and services on Telefónica’s platforms to further expand the reach of Wikimedia’s free knowledge. "We are excited to bring our customers convenient access to the wealth of knowledge contained in Wikimedia’s projects and to contribute to the continued growth of the knowledge base," said Vivek Dev, Director of Innovation at Telefónica SA. "We also look forward to collaborating with Wikimedia through our various not-for-profit operations that mirror Wikimedia's values and goals". To further their shared missions, the Wikimedia Foundation and the Telefónica Foundation, Telefónica’s philanthropic arm, will work together to explore and identify additional opportunities to advance learning amongst high school students.

Questions and answers about the partnership

About the Wikimedia Foundation The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organization that operates Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. According to comScore Media Metrix, Wikipedia and the other projects operated by the Wikimedia Foundation receive more than 347 million unique visitors per month, making them the 5th most popular web property worldwide (December, 2009). Available in more than 270 languages, Wikipedia contains more than 14 million articles contributed by a global volunteer community of more than 100,000 people. Based in San Francisco, California, the Wikimedia Foundation is an audited, 501(c)(3) charity that is funded primarily through donations and grants. Press inquiries
 * http://wikimediafoundation.org
 * http://blog.wikimedia.org


 * Jay Walsh
 * WikimediaFoundation.org
 * blog.wikimedia.org
 * +1 (415) 839 6885 x 609
 * jwalsh@wikimedia.org

About Telefonica Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Its activities are centred mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both. The company has a significant presence in 25 countries and a customer base that amounts more than 268 million accesses around the world. Telefonica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy. Telefónica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4.563.996.485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.
 * http://www.telefonica.com/
 * Telefonica Press Office
 * +34 91 482 3800
 * prensa@telefonica.es