Microsoft and Satyam unite to tackle Chinese market

Microsoft China and Satyam Computer Services have agreed to work together in Greater China to tap what they hope will be growing demand for complex IT systems from large businesses in the region, they announced Thursday.

The two will establish the Satyam Microsoft Adaptive Solution Center, featuring a broad range of IT offerings from Satyam built around Microsoft products. The Chinese market is maturing and demand for IT strategies from multinationals in the region is on the rise, the companies said. Greater China generally includes China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Satyam, a software consulting and outsourcing company based in Hyderabad, India, has about 22,000 employees in 53 countries, the companies said.

Microsoft Corp. has already invested in a joint venture in China, with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's largest software and services outsourcer. After approval by the Sino-India Cooperative Office (SICO) of the Chinese government, TCS said in June it would set up an IT outsourcing service joint venture with Microsoft, although the software and services will not be limited to Microsoft products.