STARDOLL, the world's largest virtual goods Website for girls, announced yesterday a partnership with Tom Online to launch a Chinese version Stardoll community Website to penetrate the domestic market that has the world's biggest Internet population.

According to the agreement, users are able to join Stardoll's interactive global community and create customized avatars in their own likeness on the new Chinese language Website, stardoll.tom.com. Users can also use Stardollars, the site's virtual currency, to shop for virtual fashions in the Starplaza and purchase virtual decoration materials to furnish their personalized suites.

"The fun-filled products offered by Stardoll are consistent with the positioning of Tom's portal as a brand catering to the young and trendy demographics," said Ken Yeung, chief executive officer and executive director of Tom Group, Tom Online's parent firm. "Following the portal revamp, Tom continues to enhance its services and strengthen its user-centric products and applications offerings."

Tom Online used to focus on wireless value-added services, such as ringtone downloads. But its business shrank as China Mobile tightened rules on the sector.

Having more than 20 million users worldwide, Stardoll prides itself on its global reach and aims to link young fashion enthusiasts in China with other girls, CEO Mattias Miksche said in a statement.