Chinese search engine Baidu has launched two services for mobile users, in an effort to gain an edge and a major market share in the world’s largest mobile market.
Baidu’s new software combines search and other functions offers on the PC internet. With this software, mobile users can access search services much faster than with WAP browsers.
The company has also come out with a new mobile software input method, which was developed by Shanghai-based Day Hand Networks, a mobile software company it had acquired earlier.
The company said it was going to continue its cooperation with telecom carriers and other players. Last month Baidu signed a partnership with China Unicom to provide wireless search for the carrier’s 3G mobile subscribers.
China View said mobile internet users in the country reached 192 million by the end of September this year, an increase of 62.7% year on year, and the number of computer-based internet users grew to 360 million during the same period.