Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has reportedly signed a partnership agreement with Qihoo 360 Technology Co Ltd (NYSE:QIHU), a Chinese internet security company with approximately 475 million monthly active users as of December 2013.
Partnership in mobile internet and artificial intelligence
According to Shanghai Daily, the partnership agreement between the U.S. software giant and the Chinese internet security company covers mobile internet and artificial intelligence, which demonstrates the commitment of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) to further expand its presence in the Chinese market
According to the software giant’s Search Technology Center Asia (STCA), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Qihoo 360 Technology Co Ltd (NYSE:QIHU) will start working together to develop mobile internet products such as the software giant’s Xiaobing chatbots and Qihoo 360’s mobile security service.
After collaborating on mobile internet products, Microsoft and Qihoo 360 will also collaborate and exchange technology in the field of artificial intelligence.
The STCA explained that the partnership between Microsoft Corporation and Qihoo 360 Technology Co Ltd (NYSE:QIHU) aims to improve the experience of Chinese users with mobile internet and artificial intelligence. The partnership also aims to contribute to the openness of the mobile internet in China.
Microsoft promoting Xiaobing chatbots
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) signed agreements with several Chinese companies to promote Xiaobing, the artificially intelligent chatbots created by STCA.
Tencent Holdings Ltd (HKG:0700) decided to remove Xiaobing from its popular instant messaging service in China, WeCHat or Weixin, three days after the launching of the chatbots. Tencent suspected that Xiaobing violated the operating rules of WeChat.
Qihoo 360 to introduce Orion security engine
Separately, Qihoo 360 Technology Co Ltd (NYSE:QIHU) announced that it will launch its full international product line-up including the Orion security engine during the upcoming Mobile Asia Expo 2014 on June 11-13 in Shanghai, China.
According to the company, the Orion security engine increases scanning speed by more than three times. The engine is integrated with a retina millisecond snapshot scanning technology, which further enhances system scanning performance.
The Chinese internet security company will also unveil its ultra-fast dual-core 360 browser, 360 Mobile Assistant and its flagship PC security product—360 Total Security. In addition, Qihoo 360 will also launch the latest version of its smart devices.
