One of China’s three largest telecommunications firm, China Telecom, revealed at a press conference yesterday that it will be the exclusive carrier partner of Microsoft’s Xbox One and will start selling it in September (as first reported by Reuters).
The press event was for the unveiling China Telecom’s internet of things effort in the form of a smart home series called “Yue Me,” featuring several products including a set-top box and a smart TV. The Xbox One looks set to fit right within China Telecom’s move to conquer the living rooms of the Chinese.
Microsoft confirmed in April this year that it would launch the Xbox One in China in September, in partnership with BesTV New Media, after a 13-year ban on video game consoles was finally lifted last year. The two formed a joint venture for home entertainment and gaming experiences last year, becoming the first company registered in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone agreement, as part of the requirement for console-makers selling in China.
However, China Telecom’s latest announcement still didn’t reveal any details about pricing of the Xbox One in China.
In China Telecom’s statement, BesTV Media also said that it is seeking to overturn traditional TV and internet gaming in China to create a combination of videos, games, education and health system all within the cloud, for a smart home entertainment system.
We can only wait and see how the Xbox One will position itself in China when September comes around. Already, Microsoft is one step ahead of Sony, which revealed in May this year that it was prepping the launch of its PS4 in the country after forming a joint venture.
Headline image via Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
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