The9 to buy back US$50m of American depositary shares
The9, a leading online game operator on the mainland, is to buy back up to US$50 million of its American depositary shares, each of which represents one of the Shanghai-based company's ordinary shares. 'The share repurchase programme illustrates the confidence we have in the long-term performance of our company,' said Zhu Jun, the chairman and chief executive. The9, which is licensed to operate United States-based Blizzard Entertainment's popular World of Warcraft game on the mainland, will buy the shares in the open market and expects the purchases to be funded from existing cash reserves. Bien Perez
Lenovo to install WildTangent console on laptops, desktops
Lenovo Group will provide video game software on its IdeaPad laptop and IdeaCentre desktop computers under a deal with WildTangent. Lenovo will pre-install the WildTangent Orb Game Console program, which will enable new users to play a number of free advertiser-sponsored games or buy online a selection of more than 500 titles ready for download. Bien Perez
Justel, China Unicom provide football subscription service
Beijing Justel Technologies has launched English Premier League football as a subscription service on mobile-telephone network operator China Unicom. The new service provides China Unicom's 180 million subscribers with live news, action photos and real-time match-day coverage, including team line-ups, scores, team and player profiles, statistical data and team histories - rendered for every handset. Justel is providing the service through an alliance with US-based sports programming wire The Sports Network and mobile service provider Contec Innovations. Financial terms were not given. Bien Perez
