Google’s Schmidt Still Chasing China Ambitions

[cross1993]

Outgoing Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt would like to get more of Google “into China,” including by finding a local partner for Google’s Android mobile operating system.

This file photo taken on April 12, 2006 shows Eric Schmidt (L), CEO of Google, Kai-Fu Lee (C), then-vice president of Google China and Johnny Chou (R), then-president of Google China applauding after completing a puzzle to change the name ‘Google’ to Chinese characters at a press conference in Beijing.

Mr. Schmidt made the comments in an interview with the BBC published Thursday.

“Over time I would hope – especially in my new role with more of an external focus – that I can try to get more of Google, appropriately and within our policies, into China,” the BBC cited Schmidt as saying. It didn’t elaborate on Schmidt’s comment about Android.

Last week, Google said co-founder Larry Page would succeed long time Chief Executive Eric Schmidt. Schmidt will become executive chairman, focusing on deals, partnerships, customers and broader business relationships.

Schmidt’s remarks contrast with statements from Google a year ago, when it said a dispute with China over censorship and hacking might lead it to close its China offices. The dispute did lead Google to move its mainland China search service to Hong Kong.

Google’s share of revenue in China’s online search market has been sliding ever since. Google’s market share in the fourth quarter fell to 19.6% from a peak of 35.6% in the last three months of 2009, according to Beijing research firm Analysys International. Chinese rival Baidu’s market share rose to 75.5%, compared with 58.4% in the last three months of 2009, according to Analysys.

Schmidt’s remarks also point to the question of how Page will shape the company’s business in China after Schmidt steps down.

Between Schmidt, Page and Google’s other co-founder, Sergey Brin, “I have always been the person who believes the most in expanding into China,” Schmidt told the BBC.

That aligns with remarks last year from Brin, who came to the U.S. from Russia at the age of 6 in 1979. China has “made great strides against poverty and whatnot,” Brin said. “But nevertheless, in some aspects of their policy, particularly with respect to censorship, with respect to surveillance of dissidents, I see the same earmarks of totalitarianism, and I find that personally quite troubling.”

More and more countries are tiring of the schtick and the security dangers Google brings in, especially when it’s confidential info just “accidentally” seems to always wind up in the hands of the NSA. No wonder their stock is in the dumps and prime tech talent flees. Who wants to be secretly working for the security apparatus of the United States?

Google needs China, China does not need Google. For goodness shakes, Google, go home, don’t linger here anymore.

 

[CardSharp]

Google can F off. Seriously? Sirgay you were a six year old, how much about censorship and totalitarianism did you understand back then. A bunch drama queens.

Sergey Brin: My upbringing in USSR helped 'shape' Google's views on China

In an interview with the New York Times, Brin said that Google's decision to route its Chinese-language search engine via Google Hong Kong to circumvent censorship rules had not come at the behest of the US government. "This has all been up to Google," he said.
Brin, who lived in the Soviet Union until the age of six, also said his experience of living under a repressive regime with limited political freedom had affected both his own outlook and that of Google. "It has definitely shaped my views, and some of my company's views," he said.
“Our objection is to those forces of totalitarianism [in China],” he said, adding that he hoped Google's decision not to bow to the Chinese government's censorship demands would help stimulate "progress" towards a "more open internet" in China.
Google has been able to take advantage of the fact that the Chinese authorities do not censor web searches in Hong Kong as they do in mainland China. It means that by redirecting Google's Chinese website via Hong Kong, China's citizens are able to get unfiltered access to the internet.
Google said the move was "entirely legal" and would "meaningfully increase" access to information for people in China. "We very much hope that the Chinese government respects our decision, though we are well aware that it could, at any time, block access to our services," said Google in a statement.

Brin said the hacking attempts on its networks earlier this year, which had seen the Gmail accounts of political activists compromised, were "deeply troubling".

But he praised the Chinese government for becoming a key economic power, and for "lifting so many people out of poverty".

However, analysts believe Google's decision to effectively shutdown its Chinese language search service could have a detrimental impact on web development in the region, leaving the way clear for local rivals to cement their position within the domestic search space. Baidu, a Chinese search engine, had a 58.4 per cent share of the market at the end of last year compared to Google's 35.6 per cent share, according to Analysys International.
Some analysts also said that despite Google China's servers routing queries via Hong Kong, Chinese users were still seeing censored search results filtered through China's so-called "Great Firewall".
"There actually isn't that big a difference in terms of getting information," Shaun Rein, managing director of Shanghai-based China Market Research Group, told AFP. "When [Chinese web users] click on those sensitive links, it hits the firewall."

Their PR stunt backfired and now they're on their knees begging to be let back.

 

[cross1993]

We do not need Google, we support Baidu.
Any anti-China media and companies, should stop they outside the gate, do not allow them to make a penny from China. We can choose their competitors.

 

[Bigoren]

why google??? China have goojie Baidu just rock as usual

 

[CardSharp]

We do not need Google, we support Baidu.
Any anti-China media and companies, should stop they outside the gate, do not allow them to make a penny from China. We can choose their competitors.

I really hope the Chinese people don't forget the shi t they tried to pull. There's nothing worse in a world than a hypocrite preaches holier than thou.

 

[cross1993]

I really hope the Chinese people don't forget the shi t they tried to pull. There's nothing worse in a world than a hypocrite.

Baidu China-market share increased to 83.6%. Google China-market is almost dead.
Google has made a stupid decision, it attempts to challenge China's rule. USA companies are always too confident.

 

[CardSharp]

Baidu China-market share increased to 83.6%. Google China-market is almost dead.

Only wishes I could have bought Baidu stock at 11, and sold short Google stock at 600....

 

[cross1993]

Only wishes I could have bought Baidu stock at 11, and sold short Google stock at 600....

Google stock has dropped to 591.
Baidu stock will continue to rise.

 

[rcrmj]

it disgusts me when google self-decorated as a saint when it failed Chinese market, its a 3-years-old brat behaviour!
but that event was a big treat for western medias so they could write some 'cold-war-style' propaganda to entertain its ignorant population`

 

[below_freezing]

Google is useful for scientific literature searches. Baidu cannot match in that.

It's worse for literally everything else.

 

[cross1993]

Google thinks that it can educate the Chinese people, let Chinese to accept its values. Then Chinese abandoned Google, and choose Baidu.
What a slap in the face.

Now Google has to beg for forgiveness.

 

[CardSharp]

Google stock has dropped to 591.
Baidu stock will continue to rise.

Google stock dropped to 440 and only rose back to 591 after China LET IT back in. That was a 160 point decline.

Google is useful for scientific literature searches. Baidu cannot match in that.

It's worse for literally everything else.

Yeah you actually find more articles through google's regular search than paid services like scifinder or crossfire.

 

[no_name]

In my area all you need is IEEExplore

Seriously google it would be better if you keep a stiff lip and go on with your righteous claim. You know how China deals with trust breakers and now you look two-faced.

Google first erred thinking that because the CCP has a healthy fear of people they can get whatever they want.
Now they erred on the other side thinking CCP is just about business.

 

[Tigershark]

When Google roped in the White House and NSA to change China's laws by force, I predicted that in a few months Google will come crawling back to China. My prediction came true and now Schmidt is back in China trying to peddle his wares. Google's image is tarnished though. Let's see if he has the business acumen to win back his Chinese customers.

 

[JayAtl]

“Over time I would hope – especially in my new role with more of an external focus – that I can try to get more of Google, appropriately and within our policies, into China

Misleading headline - and where is the link?


I know China is a country that has the dubious honor where more and more technology companies shy away from it's shores because of its illegal, copy/paste/ hacking govt endorsed culture. But at least read what he said...he hopes one day you won't be the pariah to the world's technology companies - and he hopes you adhere to being - quote: " appropriately and within our policies" - then he would do business.

Just like the russians who got pissed off with you for copy/paste/hacking illegally thier engines BUT came back because your govt promised it would behave.