Google Leaving China

[OutThere]

Just over two months after threatening to leave China because of censorship and intrusions by Chinese hackers, Google said Monday that it was closing its China-based Internet search service and instead directing Chinese users to a Hong Kong-based uncensored version of its search engine, which may get blocked in mainland China

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/technology/23google.html?hp

Pretty big move. I'm pleased.

 

[stridemat]

I give Google till the end of the week before they get banned from China. However kudos to Google for putting their 'necks' on the line.

 

[Scippy]

Google to stop censoring in China

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-approach-to-china-update.html

So earlier today we stopped censoring our search services—Google Search, Google News, and Google Images—on Google.cn. Users visiting Google.cn are now being redirected to Google.com.hk, where we are offering uncensored search in simplified Chinese, specifically designed for users in mainland China and delivered via our servers in Hong Kong. Users in Hong Kong will continue to receive their existing uncensored, traditional Chinese service, also from Google.com.hk. Due to the increased load on our Hong Kong servers and the complicated nature of these changes, users may see some slowdown in service or find some products temporarily inaccessible as we switch everything over.

This could lead to some interesting backlashes from China.

 

[canes960]

I am surprised they actually took charge and left. That is big

 

[OutThere]

I give Google till the end of the week before they get banned from China. However kudos to Google for putting their 'necks' on the line.

Already banned.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/technology/24google.html?hp

 

[belvdr]

Already banned.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/technology/24google.html?hp

I was reading "banned" as "remove all of your businesses from China", not banning access to the uncensored content. I believe the latter was expected from everyone.

 

[stridemat]

Already banned.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/technology/24google.html?hp

Does seem that China acted quickly. On a side note have people in China not heard of VPN's?

 

[roadbloc]

It's gonna be interesting how this one pans out. All we can do is sit tight and watch.

 

[ChazUK]

This bit was interesing from the NY Times article:

China’s biggest cellular communications company, China Mobile, was expected to cancel a deal that had placed Google’s search engine on its mobile Internet home page, used by millions of people daily. In interviews, business executives close to industry officials said the company was planning to scrap the deal under government pressure, despite the fact that China Mobile has yet to contract with a replacement.

Similarly, China’s second-largest mobile company, China Unicom, was said by analysts and others to have delayed or killed the imminent introduction of a cellphone based on Google’s Android platform. One major Internet portal, Tom.com, already had ceased using Google to power its search engine.

Does Apple use Google as the default engine on the Chinese iPhone and if so, do you think Apple will change it on a future update for Chinese users?

 

[stridemat]

This bit was interesing from the NY Times article:


Does Apple use Google as the default engine on the Chinese iPhone and if so, do you think Apple will change it on a future update for Chinese users?

One would say probably yes, so I guess they are going to have to change.

 

[rebel1124]

China dont get it

Google is positioning to be more than just a search engine. So i am not sure why people keep comparing it to Baidu or others alike. With the future of cloud computing, more personal stuff will be up on the internet. Google leaving China is a HUGE positive for the future of the company. In SHORT, Bank with google is like banking with a Swiss Bank, Bank with another, well all your private information will be turned over to the government when required or whoever is going to pay. Google is tomorrows "Private Banking", or at least thats the image they are sending to the world. The chinese dont get it and keep threatening that they have more than 300mn internet users, thats really stupid. Who cares. You can have 300mn internet users but if they are not going to transact, its USELESS. The same reason why Chinese in China will buy nestle milk if they can afford it rather then local tainted milk, same reason why they bring money to swiss accounts if they have,