Gates' Corbis mulls Asian expansion

SINGAPORE--U.S.-based digital image company Corbis expects to penetrate into several Asian markets in the next one to two years as part of its expansion plans.

The company, which is 100 percent-owned by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, revealed today that some of these markets include Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China, Bangkok, Taipei, Jakarta and Manila.

Formed in 1989, Corbis provides digital images to advertising agencies, graphic design and publishing firms, as well as media companies like television and Internet firms. Its images cover content in news, fine art, celebrity portraiture and history. The company claims to have 65 million images, of which 2.1 million are online.

Corbis today launched its virtual service for the consumer and creative professional markets in Singapore. Corporate clients here will now be able to buy its images online. --Anand Menon, ZDNet Asia