Google Just Took its First Step Back Into China

1 minute read
The Google logo is reflected in windows
The Google logo is reflected in windows of the company's China head office as the Chinese national flag flies in the wind in Beijing on March 23, 2010.AFP/Getty Images
By Victor Luckerson

Google is trying to woo mobile developers in China.

The search giant has announced that Chinese app developers will now be able to sell apps to Google Play users in more than 130 other countries. It’s one of Google’s first attempts to engage with the Chinese marketplace since leaving the country in 2010 in following conflicts with the government over national censorship policies.

The Google Play Store is severely restricted in China, so app makers in the country will be selling their wares as exports. It’s no surprise that Google is having second thoughts on leaving the country behind: China has more than 600 million Internet users, and that figure is expected to reach 800 million next year.

This olive branch to developers may be the first step in a more ambitious strategy. Google is reportedly looking to partner with a Chinese phone manufacturer or wireless carrier to launch a full-featured version of the Play store in the country, according to the The Information.

Google Street View Captures the Monuments of Ancient Egypt

The Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza.
The Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. Click here to view in Google Street View.Google
The Great Pyramid Khufu in Giza.
The Great Pyramid Khufu in Giza. Click here to view in Google Street View.Google
The Pyramid of Khafre in Giza.
The Pyramid of Khafre in Giza. Click here to view in Google Street View.Google
The Cathedral of Saint Mina in the Western Desert near Alexandria.
The Cathedral of Saint Mina in the Western Desert near Alexandria. Click here to view in Google Street View.Google
The Monastery of Saint Mina in the Western Desert near Alexandria.
The Monastery of Saint Mina in the Western Desert near Alexandria. Click here to view in Google Street View.Google
The Cairo Citadel entrance.
The Cairo Citadel entrance. Click here to view in Google Street View.Google
The view from the Cairo Citadel terrace.
The view from the Cairo Citadel terrace. Click here to view in Google Street View.Google
The Enclosure Wall at the Step Pyramid of King Djoser at Saqqara.
The Enclosure Wall at the Step Pyramid of King Djoser at Saqqara. Click here to view in Google Street View.Google
The Pyramid of Djoser at the Saqqara necropolis.
The Pyramid of Djoser at the Saqqara necropolis. Click here to view in Google Street View.Google
The Citadel of Qaitbay in Alexandria.
The Citadel of Qaitbay in Alexandria. Click here to view in Google Street View.Google
The Hanging Church in Cairo.
The Hanging Church in Cairo. Click here to view in Google Street View.Google

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