Microsoft Switches Skype Partner in China

Microsoft has a new partner for managing its Skype voice-over-IPS service in China, after terminating a nine-year partnership with Hong Kong’s Tom Group earlier this month. On November 25, it announced that it would be teaming up with Guangming Founder, itself a joint venture between Beijing-based newspaper Guangming Daily and the Founder Group.

Internet services are highly regulated in China, and foreign firms must allow their Chinese partners to run any China-based operations. As part of the Microsoft deal, Guangming Founder will manage Skype’s mobile and desktop services in China, effective immediately. According to Microsoft, Skype now has more than 100 million users in China.