The subsidiary of Medical Intelligence Technologies Inc., Medical Mobile SAS has signed a definitive distribution agreement with Orange Healthcare—a division of France Telecom dedicated exclusively to health services—for the commercialization of the Columba bracelet in France.

As per the agreement, Orange Healthcare is going to distributing Medical Intelligence's Columba bracelet to the institutional healthcare market under the brand Columba by Orange, and Medical Mobile SAS will be responsible for the Columba's distribution to the general public and other potential markets.

The Columba bracelet—which integrates a mobile telephone system, intelligent alerts and localization through satellite (GPS)—allows the Alzheimer patient to be located if they are lost or disoriented and also to establish immediate contact with them.

“France Telecom is the ideal partner to move forward with the distribution of our Columba bracelet to the institutional healthcare market,” Philippe Huneault, president and CEO at Medical Intelligence, noted in a press release.

Huneault also indicated that the Columba by Orange bracelet will be one of many products and services offered by Orange Healthcare to institutions, health related associations and retirement homes. He added, “This partnership will allow us to leverage Orange Healthcare's sales force, penetrate this market more rapidly and implement a key element of our commercialization strategy.”

Huneault pointed out that sale of his company’s Columba bracelet will also benefit from the French government's recent filing of a national plan to address Alzheimer's with the objective of maintaining autonomy for patients and emphasizing the importance of home care.

The latest agreement formalizes the letter of intent signed by Medical Mobile SAS and Orange Healthcare in March 2007. In addition, the agreement allows each company to offer a commercial product that addresses France's Alzheimer Plan goal—to create a means for individuals with Alzheimer's to remain in their homes.