Alibaba is entering a big game in the smartphone market.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd on Monday announced its intention to buy a minority stake in the little-known Chinese smartphone maker Meizu Technology Co for $ 590 million.

Alibaba, currently worth $ 213 billion, does not disclose how large its share of ownership in the enterprise will be. In Meizu, if you believe the data from their site, more than 1,000 people are currently working.

This deal will help the company push its own mobile operating system into the Chinese market through Meizu phones, while also letting Meizu access its distribution channels and other resources.

Alibaba has previously specialized in software and services, including its main service, e-commerce. Now the giant has made the same leap as previously its American rival Amazon.
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According to the chief engineer, investment in Meizu represents an important step in the company's overall mobile development strategy, with which it seeks to deliver a wider range of mobile offerings to users.

Meizu is not among the top brands of smartphones. The top four in the fourth quarter of 2014 were Apple Inc, Xiaomi, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and HuaweiTechnologies Co Ltd.