News Corp cooperates with Softbank to open Japanese MySpace

Rupert Murdoch, President of News Corp., a communications group. signed a media cooperation agreement with Japan's Softbank to deploy a Japanese version of the virtual social network Myspace in the country of cherry blossoms.

The Japanese Myspace version, whose website is http://jp.myspace.com, was officially online after Softbank Corp Chairman Masayoshi Son and Murdoch announced the MySpace Japan KK joint venture investment deal at a rate of 50. -50, with an investment of 590 million yen (5 million USD).

Murdoch said News Corp has chosen Softbank as its partner in Japan because it has taken successful steps in receiving and cooperating with famous international Web brands such as Yahoo to provide content for services. Broadband Internet.

" This partnership is a great success for both companies. Japan has long been the largest and most important Internet market outside the United States, and is still the second largest Internet advertising market on the world ", Mr. Murdoch said.

Rupert Murdoch and Masayoshi Son announced an investment deal for Japanese MySpace venture on 7 November.

MySpace has really exploded since it was launched in January 2004 as an online society and was quickly acquired by News Corp for $ 580 million last year. The virtual social network now has localized sites for Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Britain and the United States.

Many Japanese adults and adults use the English version of MySpace and currently News Corp is attracted to popular Japanese social networks like Mixi. Son said the easy-to-use features of MySpace will attract young people to join the virtual social network in this Japanese version. " We will listen to Japanese users' opinions to improve the system and meet their needs ."

MySpace has over 100 million members worldwide. This free website allows users to post photos and videos while maintaining their blog, sending messages to other members and listening to music online.

Officials from MySpace Japan said they are still arranging copyright agreements in Japan so MySpace Japan KK users can enjoy music and web content as much as possible. Son said that unlike Mixi, currently available only to registered users through the invitation policy (similar to gmail), Japanese MySpace will allow everyone to join freely.

Mr. Son refused to disclose the business objectives of this new investment agreement, including sales, profits or number of customers. He said Soft Bank has not yet denied a closer coalition relationship with MySpace. " Do not rule out the possibility that Yahoo Japan and MySpace will work together. We do not rule out this possibility ."

The virtual social networking market in Japan currently has about 10 million users, led by Mixi. Mixi, founded by young entrepreneur Kenji Kasahara, 30, has attracted more than 5 million members since its launch in 2004, attracting about 10,000 new members every day.

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