Chinese search giant Baidu is reportedly developing its own operating system with the intention of rivalling Android and iOS.
Last year, Baidu worked with Dell to develop an Android-based OS for smartphones (dubbed 'Yi'), but now it seems Baidu wants to tackle the Chinese market with its own unique offering.
While it is yet to be confirmed whether the new platform will cut all ties with Android, it is expected the new OS will maintain some elements of the Yi OS, with the core difference being a focus of Baidu's own services rather than Google's.
Baidu is the top search engine in China, and has a host of other Web services. The new smartphone platform is said to be designed to integrate with the company's other Web-based services including its cloud storage service. Reuters reports the new OS will be called “Baidu Cloud”.
The same report quotes Baidu VP Wang Jing as saying the company aims to work with global handset manufacturers to make smartphones with the new OS for the Chinese market. Wang also reportedly said Baidu is moving towards becoming a “platform company”, which will offer products across a broad range of devices.
It is expected that a dedicated Chinese OS could provide a compelling market opportunity for cellphone manufacturers wanting to break into that market.
According to reports, Baidu executives say they are in talks with partners, which are rumoured to be revealed this week. Baidu is expected to unveil a new “Baidu Phone” together with Foxconn later this week, and the device may well be the first to run on the new custom-built OS.
Statistics cited by The Next Web show China currently has over one billion active mobile phones, and 356 million mobile Internet users.
Share