BEIJING, April 25 -- Google Inc has signed a deal with China Telecom, the Chinese mainland's largest fixed-line phone operator, to provide online advertising service for the telecom's Web portals, the two companies reported yesterday.

    The deal will put Google ad services on China Telecom's portal Vnet.cn and another 400-plus portals in cities across the mainland.

    China Telecom, which also provides Internet access services, is working on integrating its Internet resources and strengthening management of its Web assets.

    Yang Keke, general manager of China Telecom's value-added business division, said the deal is just the start of cooperation in online advertising between the two companies.

    Google has been diversifying its portfolio in China's mainland this year since its partnership began with China Mobile, the mainland's No. 1 mobile carrier, on a mobile search service.

    Earlier this month, it launched its ninth new product, which helps users type in Chinese characters on their computers, in the Chinese market this year. That deal ended in controversy, however, after the discovery that data sources were used from a rival product without permission.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily)