China’s most used Internet search web site, Baidu.com, is set to launch a Japanese language version of their site on January 23, one month later than initially expected. The launch of the service had been postponed not because of any technical problems, but rather, to avoid the new year’s holiday in Japan.
Baidu CEO Robin Li had announced in October that the service would launch by the end of 2007. Instead, it will launch later this month. The site will offer the standard web search and image search, as well as videos, travel, and restaurant information.
Baidu’s Japanese search site marks their first foray outside their home country of China, where they enjoy a market share of more than double their closest rival, Google. In Japan, Baidu will get its first taste of real competition, where they will face off against the likes of Yahoo Japan and Google.
In March 2007, Baidu opened up a trial version of their Japanese service, but it only allowed users to search for websites and pictures. With the launch later this month, users will have access to additional search types.
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2 responses so far ↓
David Temple on Jan 10, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Baidu said the delay was due to the Christmas and New Year holidays but I’m wondering if they’re concerned that Chinese internet users can access information they can’t get on Baidu China and were working on that. 55% of Baidu.jp users are from China. Baidu.jp might become more popular in China than Baidu.cn.
John on Jan 10, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Baidu has learned lots of things from Google, Baidu allow website master to put ad code to the website, and display ads from baidu, the same with adsense. In the past years, Baidu like use small program to change ie’s setting. so people will open baidu when click ie icon.
But it get better now.
John
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