Baidu may be close to its own OS

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Baidu may be close to its own OS

Likely to revolve around advertising/search platform and stripped-down Linux, moving away from Android, reports say

By CAROLINE GABRIEL

Published: 29 June, 2011

READ MORE: China | Baidu | OS | Android

Since Google's high profile disputes with the Chinese authorities over censorship, the huge country has been an Achilles' heel for the search giant ' one in which local rival Baidu is determined to drive its poison arrows. First it pushed its own search box into many Android user interfaces (some outside China) in place of Google's; then it joined forces with Google antagonist Facebook on a mobile/social platform; now it is, once again, reported to be preparing its own challenger to Android.

According to reports from Technode, the project is called Qiushi, though Baidu itself said that label referred to a mobile advertising development. The most likely explanation may be that the company is looking to create a full web and apps platform, including advertising and location-based services. This would draw on various acquisitions and partnerships it has made in recent times, such as travel website Qunar.

When talk of Baidu's own operating system first surfaced last year, it was assumed it would make a modified version of Android, with its own interface and app store, rather like the Chinese cellcos' own software initiatives like China Mobile oPhone. However, a better bet would be that it will create a stripped-down, Linux-based system, closer to Chrome OS than Android, which would support its 'box computing' strategy (initially conceived in partnership with Symbian). That has the aim of developing a simplified, browser-based user interface centered on the search box, with apps and content launched directly from that box.

China has recently sought to assert its independence from western technologies and IPR in the mobile world, with mixed results. Despite the Google feuds, Android has gained significant ground in the country because it is free to adopt for the large community of local device makers. However, while China Mobile used the Google OS as the basis of the highly modified oPhone, China Unicom has gone its own way with its Wophone platform, which is proprietary.