China's Baidu may be coming to iOS

Chinese mobile phone users may have one more reason to shift to Apple Inc.'s iPhone, when Apple brings support for search services from China's Baidu portal in its iOS platform as early as June, a tech site reported Friday.

 

The Next Web reported a Baidu product manager said at a company event last week that Baidu and Apple have finalized an agreement for the integration.

 

"The move is a logical one for both parties, given that Baidu is so dominant in China’s search space and Apple’s sales in China are going from strength to strength," it said.

 

It said the two firms have supposedly been testing the integration of iOS and Baidu, which corners 83.6 percent of the Chinese search market.

 

Such said a tie-up will give Baidu a greater share of the country’s iPhone users, who are the most active on China’s mobile Web, it noted.

 

On the other hand, it will strengthen the local appeal of Apple’s mobile products.

 

The Next Web said Apple recorded profits of $7.9 billion from China alone during the first quarter of 2012.

 

Citing a Woori report, it also said Apple's smartphone market more than doubled to reach 16 percent, due to sales of its iPhone 4S.

 

Dependence on Google

 

The Next Web said this move would see Apple take another step away from its dependence on Google, maker of the rival Android platform.

 

It noted the recently launched iPhoto for iOS does not rely on Google Maps.

 

Also, it said Apple is also working with Microsoft’s Bing and WolframAlpha for search services.

 

"China remains a hugely significant market for Google, despite the latter relocating its search engine in Hong Kong in 2008. Its Android devices are dominating smartphone sales, accounting for 68 percent of new purchases in the final quarter of 2012, according to Analysys," it said.

 

On the other hand, Baidu began the year with a focus on developing its mobile strategy - and the additional of native iOS support would represent a significant coup.

 

This would also complement Baidu's cloud-centric platform "Baidu Cloud."

 

Also, The Next Web noted the "forked" Android OS is aimed at providing Baidu’s services to mainstream mobile users.

 

Baidu said the OS will help manufacturers build sub-$150 devices — starting with the Changhong H5018 – and a stronger presence on the high-end iPhone will compliment this focus on affordable smartphones.

 

Localizing products

 

Meanwhile, The Next Web said Apple has begun localising its key products in China.

 

Its OS X "Mountain Lion" includes support for QQ, Baidu, Sina Weibo, Youku and Tudou. — TJD, GMA News