Sina.com, China's biggest Web portal, will start an Internet access service similar to that of AOL early next month.
The service, which does not have a specific launch date or rate structure yet, allows dial-up, broadband and wireless Internet access. Users will go to a Sina page that may include personalised content such as weather reports, games and e-mail. Users may also use a Sina Web browser. The package is called Sina Online.
Jiang Xianbing, the Taipei Sina Online manager, said: 'We're encouraged by US examples such as AOL. Our future trend would be melting everything together.'
Sina's offer of what the technology industry calls 'bundled access' should also increase customer loyalty, he said. Sina now has 30 million e-mail users, 10 million of whom are active. Portals such as Sina fear their users will lose interest and shift to other portals.
Sina Online would begin in key cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, then spread nationwide, Mr Jiang said. It also will include connections in Taiwan and the United States.
The company has not decided how rates would compare to those of 169, 163, 2911 and other dial-up services commonly used now. These usually cost four yuan (about HK$3.7) per hour. Sina may charge according to the service plans, Mr Jiang said.
