After a 5 year hiatus, Google is trying to bring its services back to China (GOOG, GOOGL)
Google is planning to launch a version of its Google Play app store and Android Wear software for wearables in mainland China, reports Amir Efrati at The Information.
This would come about five years after the company pulled its services out of the country in 2010. During that year, Google moved its Chinese-language search engine to a Hong-Kong-based web domain after it was breached by a cyber attack that was linked to the Chinese government.
By moving its domain to Hong Kong, Google was out of reach of officials from mainland China.
Now, Google is reportedly seeking approval from the Chinese government for a special version of its app store as early as this fall, the report says.
The company is said to be partnering with local companies as part of its plan to tailor the app store to the region, and Google has promised Chinese authorities that it will follow local laws. This means it would be willing to block apps that the company doesn't approve.
An announcement regarding Android Wear — Google's version of Android that's specifically made for gadgets like smartwatches — is expected to come as soon as this month, says Efrati. This too would likely be a special version of the software that's optimized for the region.
Based on Efrati's report, it sounds like Google plans to introduce Chinese consumers to Android apps made by Chinese developers through Android Wear before rolling out its Google Play app store to the country.
This is a big deal for Google since it has no presence in China, which boasts the largest smartphone market in the world. Many Chinese tech companies have already claimed dominance in the apps and software space. As Efrati notes, companies such as Tencent and Baidu control most of the app distribution that happens in mainland China.
Consumer tech startups have also risen to fame by launching phones with their own versions of Android that aren't approved by Google. The wildly popular Xiaomi, for instance, which is often referred to as the "Apple of China," launches phones with its own Mi app store. Xiaomi is the most popular smartphone brand in China as of last month.
Google will have to win over developers if it wants to make a big presence in the country The competition to expand in China is fierce — not only is Apple putting more emphasis on expansion in China, but startups like Cyanogen are working on more flexible versions of Android that can be more easily tailored to suit the needs of a specific region.
Google has not immediately responded to Business Insider's request for comment.
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