HELSINKI, FINLAND:  Top mobile phone maker Nokia Oyj said on Wednesday it would establish a joint venture with Chinese investment firm New Alliance in a bid to bolster its mobile services in the Chinese mobile and Internet market.

Nokia said the 50/50 venture - to be named Nokia Alliance Internet Services Co Ltd - would have around 80 employees and would open for business in January next year.

"Joining forces with New Alliance gives us the right platform and expertise to offer a suite of selected Nokia Ovi services, as well as (the ability to) work with local content developers to help bring their applications to market," Niklas Savander, executive vice president of Nokia Services, said in a statement.

New Alliance is part of Shanghai Alliance Investment Ltd and focuses on media, telecom and technology, among others.