[photopress:lenovo_headquarters_in_China.jpg,full,alignright]Microsoft plans to set up a multi-million-dollar joint research and development centre in Beijing with Lenovo, the leading Chinese computer maker which bought IBM’s PC business.
Lenovo spokesman Chen Ji said, ‘The investment involves several million dollars but the specific figure will vary according to the need of different projects in the cooperation between the two.’ He said each party will hold 50% of the joint research and development centre.
China Daily said the facility will be in Lenovo’s existing research base in Beijing, with around 40 engineers from Lenovo and equipment, training and some staff from Microsoft.
China Daily quoted Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer at Microsoft, saying the partners will try to identify opportunities in the consumer and mobile markets such as digital photography, digital media and the Internet.
Lenovo, which has about 30% of the market in China, sold five million computers with Microsoft Windows operating systems last year. This out of its total shipment of eight million units. Expect to see that figure of Microsoft systems installed change upwards over the next few months.
Source: Yahoo News