Baidu to Rival Apple and Google with Mobile Web Browser
Baidu, the search engine which dominates market share in China, has announced plans to launch its own mobile web browser in an attempt to profit from the sale of advertising, web apps and content.
Baidu’s search engine, which will contend with Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome, claims to be 20% faster than its rivals. Other details announced to the press and reported on Search Engine Watch suggest that the user experience will follow Google’s lead in respect of web apps and enabling users to stream video without having to download additional software.
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Officially, Baidu still maintains links with Yahoo but will now look to independently monetize its search engine traffic and develop other aspects to its operation, in part to avoid the business model of Mozilla whose revenues are heavily reliant on Google. Baidu’s web browser will be just one income stream in a wider revenue generation scheme.
Baidu is optimistic for the future hoping to have its web browser installed on 80% of China’s Android handsets by the end of the year. Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Li also announced plans to establish a cloud computing center at a cost of 10bn Yuan ($1.6bn).