Microsoft's Corporate Vice President Blake Irving, dubbed "father of MSN", arrived in Beijing on September 19 for the inauguration of the MSN Mobile service in China.

After his three sons, i.e. MSN Messenger, Hotmail and Spaces, the birth of the daughter means that MSN users can chat with their friends listed on MSN Messenger through their mobile phones.

MSN Mobile service is a service especially tailored to the Chinese market. Subscribers who are logged off can still receive messages on their mobile phones from their friends logged on MSN Messengers and can send back messages to PC users.

The subscribers can also add mobile phone users to their contact list on MSN Messenger. Currently, the monthly fee of MSN Mobile is 10 yuan, which allows limitless number of messages. They probably need to pay to the wireless service providers for sending messages through mobile phone.

Now MSN Mobile service is only available for users of China Mobile and it is hoped that it can reach China Unicom subscribers as soon as possible.

Before this, Tencent QQ had launched mobile chatting service. Different from QQ, through MSN Mobile service, one can send short messages to those non-customers of MSN Messenger. The sender only needs to know the receiver's mobile phone number and log in. Insiders say, if MSN Spaces and searching service continue to extend to mobile phones, it will be an excellent edge for MSN to overtake QQ.

Mr. Irving told reporter that in the future, MSN Mobile service will be integrated with MSN Spaces and searching service.

He raised an example that a traveler taking a photo with mobile phone can send them right to his or her personal space. Searching can also be available to mobile terminals. This service has been available in the United States where people can search for restaurants on their mobile phones, he said. Mr Irving hopes the online searching service can land in China's market.