SIMBAD references

Rapid observation of the optical counterparts of cosmic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is a powerful tool to derive several quantities linked to GRB physics and to give the accurate, sub-arcsecond, positions for their rapid observation with large facilities. The detection and study of orphan afterglows would be an important measure of the fireball focussing angle and of the evolution of the GRB with time. In this contribution we review the needs for the observation of optical and IR counterparts of GRBs, as well as for the discovery of orphan afterglows. We present also some results obtained with TAROT instruments and the possible extension of the network to other locations and wavelengths.