In China, Baidu and Google have been competing to dominate the mobile search market.
According to statistics from earlier this year, both companies claimed a 26% share each, of total mobile search queries.
Well, here comes the tie breaker.
Just last week, Baidu announced the launch of its own mobile search app, which it described in a press statement as “the most important product in Baidu’s mobile strategy”.
This app will come pre-installed on handsets sold by China Telecom and China Unicom, the second and third biggest mobile operators in China, respectively.
The Baidu app, although in beta status, already includes powerful features like photo uploads, access to message boards, and question-and-answer services, all very popular among mobile users in China.
And while Google currently has a mobile search deal with China Mobile, industry watchers expect China Mobile to soon unveil its own mobile OS, which will compete directly with Google’s Android OS.
Is it actually possible for tech companies to take on Google, and win?
Well, it does appear so.
But perhaps only in China.
WSJ has already been referring to Baidu as “the Chinese Google killer”.
And we do expect many more of these, in the months to come.
More related news here and here.
Contributed by Matlock Stone, a Potato Mobile company. Matlock Stone produces Silkscreen, a suite of news and information products about the China media market.
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