China's largest personal computer maker, Legend Group, has signed an agreement to enhance access to the broadband network operated by the country's major fixed line carrier, China Telecommunications Corp., the companies said in a joint statement Tuesday.

As part of the strategic partnership, the computer maker will preinstall software in Lenovo and Legend brand PCs that will connect users into China Vnet, the broadband assymetric-digital-subscriber-line network operated by China Telecommunications.

China Telecommunications is the state-run parent company of New York and Hong Kong-listed China Telecom. Legend Group also has shares listed in Hong Kong and New York.

Sunny Information Technology Service Inc., Legend's service support arm, will also team up with China Telecommunications to become its customer service agency for broadband services, the statement said.

China Telecommunications will also be part of the government-backed Intelligent Grouping and Resources Sharing Network that aims to ensure local companies adopt a national standard for electronic products.

The alliance pushing a national standard is supported by China's Ministry of Information Industry (MII) as a way of giving local technology companies an edge in the domestic market against major international competitors.

"The very way broadband is developing means that IT usage and communications will become widespread," Legend Group President Yang Yuanqing said in the statement. "It therefore stands to reason that resource and service sharing will form the direction for the future."

China Telecommunications Vice-President Chang Xiaobing said with its broadband customers surpassing 7.5 million in 2003, the carrier is working hard to cooperate with different partners to provide better and more wide-ranging products.

"Our cooperation with Legend is a case in point," Chang said. "Together we will spread broadband services across China."

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