No halt to MSN services on mainland

NETIZENS on the Chinese mainland can continue using the MSN and Hotmail services although Microsoft Corp will close the Windows Live Messenger (MSN) service in overseas markets and replace it with Skype from the first quarter of next year, the US software giant said yesterday.

Chinese users raised concerns about their MSN contacts and e-mail service after a report on Tuesday spread widely saying that Microsoft would soon shut down MSN globally. Microsoft confirmed the news yesterday but emphasized that MSN and Hotmail services would remain on the mainland.

Microsoft said it will continue to develop MSN and Skype services in China so that users can enjoy "different" experiences.

"As the era of multi-screen has arrived, we conform to the trend by revamping our business strategy," Anderson Liu, general manager of MSN China, said in a statement.

The company said it will strengthen online advertising business, including AiA (Ads in Apps) and traditional display advertising based on MSN China website.

It's estimated that there are 15 million Chinese mainland users of these services now, industry insiders said.

But MSN faces challenges in the domestic market from rivals, including Tencent's QQ and Sina Weibo.

Email Story    Printable View    Blog Story    Copy Headline/URL