Microsoft Corp Joint launch with Alibaba

Microsoft Corp and Alibaba's software subsidiary announced yesterday in Shanghai a joint launch of the enterprise mailbox services, which target the millions of small and medium firms in China.

The services, which integrate Microsoft Exchange tool, allows users to access enterprise mailboxes through several methods, including Webpage and mobile phone, both firms said.

The services will charge users a fixed rate annually and firms can choose to renew the services, said Oliver Wang, general manager of Alisoft Co, a software unit of Jack Ma's Alibaba Group.

Chinese enterprise mailbox service market revenue was 680 million yuan (US$100 million) last year and it's expected to grow 30 percent this year and next year, according to iResearch Inc, a Shanghai-based consulting firm.