Internet giant AOL launched a version of its portal in India on Thursday, including sections devoted to Bollywood, cricket and international music.
The new site, AOL.in, will have tailored news and entertainment, as well as features such as free email, instant messaging and mobile services.
“India is one of the world’s fastest-growing online markets and our India portal will help us compete for users and advertisers in this important region,” Ron Grant, president and chief operating officer of AOL, said in a statement ahead of the official launch in Bangalore.
The launch comes after an overhaul of AOL’s business model last year, when it decided to give away most of its services for free to boost online advertising sales.
Citing a report from Kaufman Brothers, AOL said the Indian market had about 45 million Internet users at the end of 2006.
The report projected the region’s Internet usage could double to 94 million by 2008 and triple to 147 million by 2010.
AOL also has portals for France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Austria, as well as ones in the United States targeting Latino and Chinese populations.
The new site, AOL.in, will have tailored news and entertainment, as well as features such as free email, instant messaging and mobile services.
“India is one of the world’s fastest-growing online markets and our India portal will help us compete for users and advertisers in this important region,” Ron Grant, president and chief operating officer of AOL, said in a statement ahead of the official launch in Bangalore.
The launch comes after an overhaul of AOL’s business model last year, when it decided to give away most of its services for free to boost online advertising sales.
Citing a report from Kaufman Brothers, AOL said the Indian market had about 45 million Internet users at the end of 2006.
The report projected the region’s Internet usage could double to 94 million by 2008 and triple to 147 million by 2010.
AOL also has portals for France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Austria, as well as ones in the United States targeting Latino and Chinese populations.
