Last Monday, it was posted on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s website that Microsoft would be joining with Chinese Internet TV company BesTV New Media Co., 600637.SH +10.01%, which would have a registered capital of $79 million. BesTV is a subsidiary of the Shanghai Media Group, which would take a 51 percent of the total profit and would leave the remaining 49 to Microsoft. This strengthens the theory that Microsoft is looking for new acquisitions.
It is a known fact that gaming consoles are banned in China. However, since a long time it has been available on the market through unofficial channels, such as private retail outlets in China's ubiquitous computer malls. Despite this fact, consoles remain unpopular in China and they do not even stand as a competition to the increasing number of smart phones. Most of the consumers play games on personal computers and smart phones.
According to sources, the industry expectations for a relaxation was heated up after an article in January from the government-run China Daily, which cited a person with the Ministry of Culture saying the ministry was reviewing the policy of banning consoles. However, relaxation of such restrictions would involve a number of ministries, and therefore could face obstacles, as stated by analysts. According to the Microsoft help, several users face issues regarding the gaming consoles, and contact the technicians for assistance.
In November, the software giant had stated that it would collaborate with 21Vianet Group Inc, which is China's largest private data-center operator, to offer Office 365 and Windows Azure, cloud versions of its most popular software products, on servers in China. This would help the users to experience the latest services of Windows operating system. The Chinese government originally agreed to ban consoles in 2000, out of concern for the impact the games have on young people in China. However, the irony is that the block simply helped popularize gaming on computers in Internet cafes, across the country. It is fact that recent efforts by companies like Microsoft to make consoles that provide Internet access and television along with high-end games, would attract more Chinese consumers, and make the gaming consoles popular here.
A number of companies in China, including mobile-phone upstart Xiaomi Inc., have recently released set-top boxes to accommodate to the anticipated demand. According to Microsoft help, if this trend goes on, gaming consoles would provide stiff competition to the smart phones in the near future.
It is a known fact that gaming consoles are banned in China. However, since a long time it has been available on the market through unofficial channels, such as private retail outlets in China's ubiquitous computer malls. Despite this fact, consoles remain unpopular in China and they do not even stand as a competition to the increasing number of smart phones. Most of the consumers play games on personal computers and smart phones.
According to sources, the industry expectations for a relaxation was heated up after an article in January from the government-run China Daily, which cited a person with the Ministry of Culture saying the ministry was reviewing the policy of banning consoles. However, relaxation of such restrictions would involve a number of ministries, and therefore could face obstacles, as stated by analysts. According to the Microsoft help, several users face issues regarding the gaming consoles, and contact the technicians for assistance.
In November, the software giant had stated that it would collaborate with 21Vianet Group Inc, which is China's largest private data-center operator, to offer Office 365 and Windows Azure, cloud versions of its most popular software products, on servers in China. This would help the users to experience the latest services of Windows operating system. The Chinese government originally agreed to ban consoles in 2000, out of concern for the impact the games have on young people in China. However, the irony is that the block simply helped popularize gaming on computers in Internet cafes, across the country. It is fact that recent efforts by companies like Microsoft to make consoles that provide Internet access and television along with high-end games, would attract more Chinese consumers, and make the gaming consoles popular here.
A number of companies in China, including mobile-phone upstart Xiaomi Inc., have recently released set-top boxes to accommodate to the anticipated demand. According to Microsoft help, if this trend goes on, gaming consoles would provide stiff competition to the smart phones in the near future.
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