SoftBank launches robot venture with Alibaba, Foxconn

The robots - which the mobile phone and Internet conglomerate envisions serving as baby-sitters, medical workers or even party companions - are already being used at stores including SoftBank's own mobile phone shops, but the companies said they would now be available to general consumers.

SoftBank said it would have a 60 percent stake in the joint venture, with Alibaba and Foxconn holding 20 percent each.

(Reporting by Yoshiyasu Shida and Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Chris Gallagher)