Kingsoft China

(See Randy Tan’s Comments regarding software piracy in China, September 21, 2007, China Business Blog, Larry DeAngelo)


Kingsoft, one of the leading China software companies, was founded in 1988. Their initial product offerings were anti-virus and word processing software. In 2003 they added online gaming products to their product line. Headquarted in Beijing, they employ over 1400 employees. They have development centers in Zhuhai, Beijing, Chengdu, and Dalian. In 2005 they established a J.V. in Japan. Their Online Communities include www.iciba.com, an English learning site, and www.xoyo.com an online gaming site. Investors include JAFCO, Lenovo, GIC, Intel Capital, and New Horizons. In August 2006, they received a $72M investment from Tetrad Ventures Pte. Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Singapore Government. Currently they are involved in a Hong Kong IPO with plans to raise $98 million.

Kingsoft’s products include WPS Office, which Kingsoft describes as “coded in China .. and Microsoft Office compatible.” Their Chinese – English translation software PowerWord is often pirated. In 2003 Kingsoft released its first Chinese martial arts game JX Online, and in 2004 they released the game “The First Myth.” In 2005 “JX Online II” was introduced. Their Microsoft Office compatible suite of applications can be downloaded from the Kingsoft web site and used free for 180 days.




References:



Pacificepoch.com:

Capital Raising September 17, 2007
Capital Raising August 18, 2006
http://www.pacificepoch.com/newsstories?id=P91364


Zero/Paid.com:

Piracy Hurting China
http://www.zeropaid.com/news/6731/Piracy+hurting+China%27s+own+industries

Kingsoft, home page:

Kingsoft, http://en.kingsoft.com/whoarewe.htm

Kingsoft Online Games:
http://www.kingsoft.com/en_test/products/game.shtml