Skype to create Chinese joint venture

Skype has signed a deal with Chinese wireless operator TOM Online to create a joint voice over IP venture.

The venture will be jointly held by the pair, with ownership split 51 per cent to 49 per cent in the Chinese company's favour.

It will work to develop, create and distribute a Chinese-language version of Skype's VoIP software.

TOM Online has already been offering a simplified version of Skype software since late last year, which is now used by 3.4 million of the wireless provider's 70 million customers.

China will be top priority for Skype due to its booming use of broadband - despite low penetration rates, China's massive population means it is set to overtake the US for broadband users by 2008, according to analysts.