Chinese online payment service provider 99Bill Corporation has inked a strategic partnership agreement with Sohu.com (SOHU) to jointly launch the Sohu-99Bill joint-account payment service.

Commenting on the partnership, Oliver Kwan, CEO of 99Bill Corporation said that payment service is the critical and fundamental building block for Sohu's online and wireless transactions, but the 99Bill platform also creates many cross marketing opportunities as well.

Under this agreement, Sohu users will be able to conveniently access the fast and secured payment services offered by 99Bill, such as Internet and mobile phone payment, and enjoy the rich and value-added interactive services over the web.

With this account, users can easily recharge Fox coins (a virtual coin issued by Sohu) in real time and can purchase Sohu's value-added services and products. Sohu's users not only get all the functionalities and privileges of a regular 99Bill account, but also can make purchases and online payments with any 99Bill enabled services providers and merchants, or among joint account users themselves. Additionally, the joint account users are entitled to the 99Bill member benefits as well, such as, merchant offerings, digital coupons and membership reward program.