Microsoft may buy Bright Oceans stake
Bright Oceans Inter-Telecom Corp, a Shanghai-listed company which develops operating systems for third-generation mobile-telephone carriers, said it was in talks with software maker Microsoft Corp for business co-operation.
Microsoft may invest more than US$10 million in buying a stake in Bright Oceans as a move to tap the mainland's 3G market, according to state-owned Guangzhou Daily.
Beijing-based Bright Oceans said in a Shanghai Stock Exchange announcement that it was discussing a strategic partnership with Microsoft but no agreement had been signed.
Bright Oceans and Microsoft declined to comment further on the deal yesterday.
Bright Oceans, listed in Shanghai in 2000, runs 80 per cent of China Mobile's digital transmission network management system and 50 per cent of China Unicom's.
The company also took part in all of China Mobile's transmission resource management system, 70 per cent of its business process management system (BPM) and 50 per cent of China Unicom's BPM system.
Bright Oceans was certified as one of the key national high-tech enterprises by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Commerce and the State Taxation Administration.
Microsoft has been stepping up its investment in the mainland, where demand for technology services and equipment is expected to keep rising amid the country's fast economic growth.
Its other investments include Beijing-based Chinasoft International, whose shares trade on Hong Kong's second board.
Shares in Bright Oceans, which gained 88 per cent over the past year, slumped 7.89 per cent to 18.80 yuan yesterday.
