Google is missing out the action in China

Having lived and started a business in China for the last 11 years, it is exciting to see how things are evolving here. One thing stands out recently, base on my own personal experience, is that Google is missing out the action in China.

Few years back, Google sort of moved into the backstage for search business in China. I believe it is due to differences between Google own policy and Chinese government requirement. This gave room for local Chinese search engine like Baidu to become the default search engine here.

Once this happen, it has now snowballed into a larger impact like to Android and their mobile eco system. I have moved from iPhone to larger screen Samsung Android mobile phone two years ago. Since it is an Android system, I prefer to use Google apps whenever possible. It is not necessary due to Google or non-local apps are better than local ones. Those who are familiar with the Chinese market and product will know how fast Chinese are improving and in some areas, already surpassing the world. My preference to Google apps is mainly due to the trust of their product quality.

However, especially recently, I have to abandon Google apps and started using local ones. Not by choice but necessity. The first one to go was Google Map. It did not reflect that accurately as compared to the local apps. For driver like me, one really doesn’t want to be late for an appointment because one is led to a wrong location.

Then it is Play Store. It used to work although its response time is a bit on the slow side. Recently, it is so slow that it is like not working at all. I have to use one of the many local Android stores. It works well except I will miss some of the newer foreign products. When I first bought my Samsung Note 3 locally, Play Store is not installed. After I found a way to install it, you can see the app is being opened up and then closed forcefully. Once I have a non Chinese version OS, I can then use Play Store until recently.

Few days ago, I have to use a Baidu app for translation instead of Google app. Google translation app just couldn’t get the response from the cloud or backend. This is another problem with cloud as it is too dependent to being connected. Oh, Gmail, still works but not so reliable due to its response time. Every internet data in and out of China has to go through a firewall.

It is sad that I have to miss all the good stuffs from Google. Every country goes through similar phases of development. The policies they make are most of the times necessary for that particular period. Apple is adapting and engaging China as one of their markets. Google is an admirable company and it will be nice to see Google get into the action in China again.