Since last year, Google has seen share of its local rival Baidu soar to 61%. Google maps were now listed 3rd after Bidu and Mapbar.com which has over 10% market share.
Moreover, an increasing number of websites using data provided by online mapping services providers have turned to Google’s rivals, Yan Xiaojia of Analysys International told state run China Daily.
48,000 Websites ..!
There are 48,000 websites of this type in China, and about 60% of them used Google’s mapping data in the first half of last year.
However, the company is now losing its dominant position, said Yan.
Google has formally applied for licence to operate online map service to operate in China seeking to return to the lucrative Chinese market after a year long absence.
China’s mapping service regulator said that Google’s application for an online maps licence, which is required for operating such service in China, is under official examination.
Google, which desisted from applying for licence after China brought about a new rule making it mandatory for the companies to have joint venture in 2010
picked up Beijing Guxiang Information Technology as its partner in China.
China also imposes stringent restrictions on online map operators which included sticking to its official outline of borders. The official online Chinese maps depict Arunachal Pradesh as part of China’s southern Tibet. Hong Bo, an IT critic who follows Google, said the bureau’s statement may deliver a blow to the company.
If Google fails to get the licence, it could cause great inconvenience to many websites and developers that provide services based on Google Map API (application programme interface), Fang Xingdong, Founder and CEO of blog portal Bokee.
Meanwhile, millions of iPhone and Android smartphone users will be affected if Google fails to provide mapping services, as Google Maps is a built-in application in these smartphones, Yan was quoted by the state run Global Times here as saying.
Src: PTI
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