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Google building on China book search
As Baidu snaps at its heels...

By Reuters

Published: Thursday 08 March 2007

Google and its top rival in China, Baidu.com, are racing to build out their online library services as they battle for a slice of the world's second-largest internet market.

Baidu has already secured a strategic partnership with Peking University Library in Beijing, one of Asia's largest academic libraries, in preparation for the launch of its online book service, according to publishing and internet sources familiar with the situation.

A Chinese publishing source said: "Baidu has already secured good relations with many local universities and libraries."

He said: "For example, Baidu has signed a strategic partnership with Peking University Library," adding that the deal gives Peking University, China's most prestigious academy, the chance to move part of its book resources into cyberspace.

Google is also co-operating with almost 20 local publishing houses for the newly launched Chinese version of its Book Search service, said a company spokeswoman.

China already has home-grown online book search companies, such as Dushu.com - which translates as "read" in Chinese - but analysts said they should not pose a significant threat to Google and Baidu - which together command three-quarters of the country's online market.