Microsoft Corp. has won a government contract that will expand its data center service and Internet version of its Office software suite into China.
The deal announced Thursday calls for Microsoft to team up with China-based 21Vianet Group Inc. to sell Office 365 and Windows Azure to companies in the world’s most populous country.
The agreement was worked out with the Shanghai Municipal Government.
Office 365 is a service that gives customers online access to Microsoft’s popular word processing, spreadsheet and email programs. Windows Azure enables customers to customize online applications and store data in Microsoft’s remote computers.
Like other technology companies, Microsoft is hoping to sell more services to Chinese companies and government agencies as the country’s economy continues to expand. Microsoft also will manage the services from its data centers in Singapore or Hong Kong.
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