Feb. 1, 2007 (China Knowledge) – Software giant Microsoft Corp. is setting up a research and development centre in Shanghai for its online MSN service, its first such cente outside the U.S.

The R&D center, based in the city's Zizhu Science Park, where chip giant Intel Corp. already has a research office, will develop Internet software, sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

The center, which will cost up to US$20 million, will also have a technical support team for MSN Messenger. This Microsoft online communication tool has over 20 million users in China, the world's second-largest Web market with around 137 million users.