BhartiSoftbank (BSB), a 50:50 joint venture (JV) between Bharti Enterprises and SoftBank, on Tuesday partnered with Yahoo! Japan for developing mobile internet portal for the Indian market.

The companies have formed a JV company christened BSY Pte Ltd for this purpose. The new company would combine Bharti’s Indian market with SofBank group’s (Japan) experience in internet portal space.

BSB was launched in October 2011 to focus on mobile internet in India.

“This will be an important piece in our strategy to drive the uptake of mobile internet and data services,” Mr Kavin Bharti Mittal, Head of Strategy & New Product Development, BSB said.

Yahoo! Japan, with over 84 per cent internet users using it, has largest user base on mobile in Japan driven by its mobile internet portal.

“The Indian market will see growth of data usage on mobile. Through this partnership we hope to contribute to enhance people’s lives through mobile internet,” Mr Shin Murakami, Chief Mobile Officer of Yahoo! Japan said.

ronendrasingh.s@thehindu.co.in

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