Google to strengthen mobile search service in China

BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. search engine Google Inc. plans to strengthen its mobile search service in China as the first strategic move since the company came under the Chinese government glare for providing links to pornographic sites, reported Tuesday's China Daily.

The world's largest search engine said it plans to aggressively promote its mobile search service, Google Map service and its Android wireless platform in the world's largest mobile market, where cell phone users reached 687 million by last May.

The company also said it will upgrade its mobile search and Google Map service in China later this year.

Google's announcement came one month after it was accused of providing links to pornographic content. The government later ordered Google to shut down part of its service, including Google Suggest and Google Translate.

The company's business has been grown rapidly in China during the past year. But experts said the government move could significantly thwart its long-term development in the country, where domestic rival Baidu Inc. dominates the market.

Since last month, Google has launched its first advertising campaign in big cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou for its mobile search service.

According to China Internet Network Information Center, the country's Internet users reached 338 million by the first half of this year. Mobile Internet users rose 32.1 percent in the first half of this year to 155 million, boosted by the launch of third generation service.