ARN

Motorola to put Bing search on Android phones

The Microsoft search and map services will be put on Android phones in China first

Motorola will start loading Microsoft's search and map services onto its Android smartphones in China, bringing more non-Google services to the phones amid a row between Google and China.

It is the second time since Google said it would stop censoring its search results in China that Motorola has turned to a Google search rival for its Android phones there. Motorola revealed a search deal with Baidu.com, Google's main rival in China, soon after Google announced its China plans in January.

Motorola will start pre-loading Microsoft's Bing search and map services on its Android smartphones in China this quarter, or use updates to add them to phones already on the market, it said Wednesday. Motorola said the deal is a global one, though it gave no details on plans to offer Bing in other countries.

The phones will have a Bing bookmark pre-loaded in the Web browser and what Motorola called a "search widget" that uses Bing. Motorola said the deal would give users more choice but did not say how it related to the Baidu deal, or whether services from other providers would also be pre-loaded on phones.

Google's plans for its Chinese search engine defy government regulations, which require self-censorship by Internet companies, including search providers. One Android phone from Motorola and another from Samsung had their China launches delayed after Google's announcement, and Google postponed availability of Google apps on Android phones from Chinese mobile carriers. A Chinese mobile carrier last week started pre-selling the delayed Motorola phone.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt said at a conference in Abu Dhabi Wednesday that his company is in "active negotiations" with the Chinese government and that he expects "something will happen soon," according to published reports. Google.cn, the company's China search engine, currently is still censoring results.

Come socialise with us! Facebook | LinkedIn

More about: Google, Microsoft, Motorola, Samsung
References show all

Comments

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Users posting comments agree to the ARN comments policy.
Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.
Related Coverage
Related Whitepapers
Latest Stories
Community Comments
Tags: Motorola, Google Android
ARN Directory | Distributors relevant to this article
Alloy Computer Products , Alloys , Aquion , ASI Solutions , Australasian PC Distributors (APCD) , Avnet Technology Solutions , Bluechip Infotech , Brightpoint Australia , Compucon Computers , Dicker Data , Express Data , Express Online , ICT Distribution , Impact Systems Technology , Ingram Micro Australia , Leader Computers , Leading Pacific Australia , NewLease , POS POS , Simms International (For Simms International please see Express Online) , Synnex Australia , Topstar Computer International , Transition Systems Australia , Westan , XiT Distribution , Xpress I.T. , Dynamic Supplies
rhs_login_lockGet exclusive access to ARN's news, research and invitation only events.
ARN Distributor Directory
ARN Vendor Directory

iAsset is a channel management ecosystem that automates all major aspects of the entire sales,marketing and service process, including data tracking, integrated learning, knowledge management and product lifecycle management.