Microsoft Corp.'s online portal MSN.com will launch a China job search service this year to attract young netizens in the world's second-largest Web market.

"We are going to offer a job-hunting service in the next few months, but at the current stage we do not have any detailed information to disclose on this topic," Richard Feng told Reuters.

Industry sources said MSN's China Web site (www.msn.com.cn) is in talks with several local partners, including international and local human resource firms, in preparation for launching the Chinese-language online job search channel.

The move potentially brings the software giant up against heavyweights 51job Inc., ChinaHR.com, controlled by U.S. powerhouse Monster Worldwide Inc., and Zhaopin.com.

Those companies hold the top three positions with a combined 35 percent of domestic market share, state media has said. China's online job market was worth an estimated 1.15 billion yuan ($148.2 million) in 2006, up 43.8 percent from a year ago.

Source:未知