Intel China and the Baidu search engine plan to work closely together to develop search and other web-based applications for Chinese users.
A memorandum of understanding signed in Beijing unites the Baidu search engine and global chipmaking leader Intel in creating those optimized applications, all to run on Intel-based hardware.
China’s growing Internet userbase, believed to be in excess of 100 million people, has drawn interest from a broad swath of US technology firms like Google and Microsoft as well as Intel. Gaining a solid foothold now could be worth billions in the future.
Chinese companies have just as much interest in profiting from those online users. Alibaba accepted $1 billion from Yahoo and used a part of those proceeds to acquire Yahoo China last year.
Now Baidu, facing a challenge from Google and other search competitors, wants to secure its place in the search market. For Baidu, that means expanding where its users can find its service:
”Baidu is committed to providing the best way for people to find information. In addition to PCs, our users will soon be able to access Baidu search services on their handsets and home devices,” said Jerry Liu, CTO of Baidu. ”Intel is the global leader in silicon technology and has played a critical role in enhancing [the] Internet user experience.
Mobile search has been a focus in the US, but China and other Asian economies have shown a greater likelihood of users purchasing and using mobile services beyond phone calls and text messaging than their American counterparts.
Becoming a prominent presence on mobiles could help Baidu increase its search market share, and hold off the challenges presented by domestic and foreign competitors.
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David Utter is a staff writer for murdok covering technology and business.
