SK Telecom Co, South Korea's mobile carrier, said on Thursday that its joint venture with China Unicom has officially begun operations in Beijing.
The joint venture, called UNISK Information Technology Co, was established in February to launch a wireless Internet business in China. A total of US$6 million has been put into the company, in which SK Telecom holds a 49 percent stake and China Unicom a 51 percent interest, the South Korean mobile operator said. It is the first telecom alliance between foreign and Chinese operators, according to SK Telecom. UNISK will make contents, such as downloadable ring tones, games and chatting software, available to Chinese cell phone users, SK Telecom said.