Microsoft to Sign Pact With China Telecom

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=528&ncid=528&e=9&u=/ap/20030227/ap_on_hi_te/microsoft_china_united_telecom' target='_blank'>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm..._united_telecom</a><br /><br /></div>"Microsoft Corp. is aiming to secure a place for its software in the world's largest market for mobile phones by signing a cooperation agreement with China's No. 2 mobile operator. Under the deal, Microsoft will use its software to help China United Telecommunications Corp. develop new, data-focused services for its 207 million subscribers. <br /><br />...Under the agreement, Microsoft and China United will also jointly promote the use of mobile phones based on Microsoft's software, known as Pocket PC Phone Edition. That is a potentially huge development for Microsoft's mobile software — which, according to International Data Corp. research, ran on just 170,000 of the 420 million mobile phones shipped in 2002. China is expected to add 52 million new mobile users this year."<br /><br />There's a nice ring to "207 million subscribers" and "Pocket PC Phone Edition" isn't there?

[David McNamee]

I was surprised to not see Smartphone mentioned in the article. I'd think they'd try to push both device types in China. Oh, well... I suppose if North America doesn't have them yet, neither can China. (Yes that's supposed to sound bitter - I want a Tanager!!!)