China Telecom teams up with major internet firms

China Telecommunications Corp, the country's third-largest telecom carrier by mobile subscribers, said on Wednesday that it would open its user account resources by enabling internet companies to tap into its vast user base.

The move is part of the State-owned company's broad effort to seek closer cooperation with internet players, after its rival China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd attracted private investors in its $11.7 billion ownership reform plan.

China Telecom said users currently need to go through a number of steps such as inputting passwords or receiving a verification code in short messages before they log in to internet companies' apps. Such methods are inconvenient and expose users to cyber theft or phone fraud.