Wired magazine expands to its sixth market with Taiwanese website

Technology magazine Wired is set to continue its global expansion with the launch of a new website aimed at the Taiwanese market.

With its entry into Mandarin-speaking Taiwan, this will see Wired hit its sixth market since it launched as an American monthly magazine in 1993, declaring at the time that it would become the ‘Rolling Stone’ of technology magazines. Indeed, many would argue that it has achieved this goal, helping to bring the technology industry to mainstream audiences.

Wired launched an Italian edition of the magazine in early 2009, followed by a UK version a few months later, the latter of which was actually a relaunch following a very brief introduction back in the mid-90s. Wired also started a semi-annual publication in Japan in 2011, followed by the inaugural German edition which publisher Condé Nast International launched in October 2011.

“Wired has become the magazine and digital reference of the new media age,” says Jonathan Newhouse, Chairman and Chief Executive of Condé Nast International. “Taiwan is a vibrant, technologically advanced market where consumers have a hunger for all things digital and Wired can make a huge impact.”

Condé Nast International has been pushing hard to take the magazine beyond print in international markets, through websites, tablet editions, smartphone products and through publicizing itself at events. Indeed, The Next Web partnered with Wired for its inaugural European event back in October.

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Tai Chi Chuan has been appointed Editor in Chief of Wired Taiwan. Tai was founder of tech startup Richi Inc, and he also co-founded TechOrange. Wired Taiwan will also publish tailored content for mobile phones, and will be supported by regular on and offline events.

Sophia Liao, President of Condé Nast Taiwan, said:

“Launching online will connect with the region’s significant digital community, in addition to a wider Chinese speaking Wired audience globally. Recognised as a digitally progressive publishing company, Condé Nast Taiwan is proud to be included in the agenda-setting Wired portfolio.”

Condé Nast is a division of Advance Publications and publishes 137 magazines, 100 websites and over 170 tablet and smartphone apps in 25 countries.

The beta version of the website is now live, and we’re told that it will be accompanied by two standalone print issues of Wired Taiwan in September and December 2012. There’s also rumors that an India-specific version will launch some time in 2012.