US-based software giant Microsoft’s online chatting service Skype is planning to expand its business in China. The new joint venture was announced after concluding a six-year partnership with media conglomerate Tom Group. GMF will be the new partner of Skype and is an internet communications company which is co-created by Founder Group and Guangming Daily, a stat-owned newspaper.
However, details of the new partnership have not been disclosed for now. The company GMF is not very well-known, but will help the online chatting service Skype in building a good relationship with the government of China, due to backgrounds of its parent companies. Judd Harcombe, the head of Skype’s global market development said that Skype will launch more localized services for users in China in order to increase its users base.
Meanwhile, the vice president of Guangming Daily’s flagship website, Chen Jiandong said that the joint venture will help GMF to be more present in the mobile internet market, as well as to develop new-media business. Skype specialises in online instant messaging and video call services. The service was established in 2003 and has more than 300 million active users all over the world.
The service entered the Chinese market in 2004 and has achieved a significant user population among high-end customers.
Photo Credits: SCMP
