Legend plans devices for Chinese Internet market
mercurycenter.com
SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) - Legend Holdings Ltd said
Wednesday it would develop low-cost devices that will bring Internet
access to Chinese consumers via television sets as a part of
Microsoft Corp.'s Venus project.
''We will cooperate with Microsoft in all areas including promotion
and distribution,'' Chairman and President Liu Chuanzhi told reporters
after he met Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates in Shenzhen.
Legend said the ''set-top'' box will use a version of Microsoft's
Windows CE operating system tailored for the Chinese market.
Similar to Microsoft's WebTV product, devices developed under the Venus project will use a standard
television set as a monitor and allow people to browse the Internet, send and receive electronic mail,
create documents, play games and access other functions using PC-like input devices such as a
keyboard and mouse.
Liu said Microsoft's Venus project would stimulate interest in the Internet among Chinese consumers
and would indirectly boost demand for low-cost and easy-to-use non-PC products.
''Non-PC products will become more and more mature and popular in China in next two to three
years,'' Liu said.
In China, there is only one personal computer for every 3,000 people, and television sets are far more
common, a Legend official said.
Liu said Legend would consider seeking an overseas listing, such as on the Nasdaq exchange, but
only in the very long term. |
