Microsoft partners with Viet Nam firms for online services

The four local partners include VIP Wireless, Viet Nam Data Communications Company (VDC), Viet Nam Television (VTV) and Lao Dong Daily News.

The new online services will connect an internet market that has grown by 7,000 per cent since 2000 with more than a billion Internet users worldwide, figures from the Microsoft show. The agreement also builds on Microsoft partnerships with the Vietnamese government and a range of companies in the burgeoning ICT sector.

"Microsoft is extremely excited to partner with the best media companies in Viet Nam to deliver compelling online experiences" said Grant Watts, General Manager for Microsoft's Online Services Group for Southeast Asia.

He said that strong economic growth combined with a young population is helping to drive a thrilling new experience for Vietnamese people, allowing them to communicate, interact with each other, and explore the world around them in entirely new ways.

VIP Wireless will be responsible for content aggregation and will work with local and international content partners on the provision of content for MSN.

Lao Dong, with its strength in financial reporting, will contribute to the business and stock channels of the portal, while VTV will be in charge of providing content for the news, weather and entertainment channels.

VDC, the nation's largest internet service provider will supply the network and internet infrastructure and technical support for the initiative.

"This partnership will bring a platform to the market that will foster online communities and the sharing of information and ideas amongst the Vietnamese population as internet penetration grows," said VDC director Vu Hoang Lien.

The business will be supported primarily through revenues from online advertising. Industry estimates put online advertising growth in Viet Nam at between 70 and 100 per cent by 2010 when industry revenues are expected to reach US$31 million.

- Viet Nam News, Asia News Network