Motorola bringing SHOP4APPS app store 2CHINA, adding workaround for Google spat
By Chris Ziegler 
posted January 21st 2010 4:08PM
posted January 21st 2010 4:08PM
Perhaps the more interesting part of the announcement, though, is that Motorola is adding the capability to choose a non-default (read: non-Google) search provider on these phones. For all practical purposes, Baidu is China's Google, anyhow, with a commanding market lead -- so it probably makes a lot of sense for locals to be able to route searches through them, never mind the fact that it gives Moto an escape hatch for sidestepping the drama going on right now. An Android phone tightly integrated with Google search isn't so useful if Google leaves the country, right? Look for both of these services to be available via over-the-air updates in time for the Chinese New Year -- January 26.
look at that cute little robot putting those apps in the box
BAWWWWWWWWWWWW
Cute robot - yes.
But I still think George Lucas should sue. :-P
It would be kinda awesome if Google cut Motorola off because of this. They pull out of China and "postpone" Android handsets so they can make a statement, and then they go and do this? I know I would.
LULZ
If this was in reaction to google threatening to leave China then it would not be ready for a Jan 26 launch, preparing something like this takes months, not weeks, to get right. Of course moto could have seen this issue between google and china coming.
If they need these updates to go out by Chinese New Year they have a little extra time as it actually falls on February 14th this year. January 26 was Chinese New Year last year. :)
Thats kind of a slap in the face to Google....The Android platform has brought Moto back from the land of who gives a sh!t, and this is how you repay Google....SMMFH
@Vision77 -- I'm guessing it's because the android store is a mess of incompatibilities right now, and you can (easily) buy applications that may not work properly on your device (a very common complaint from new Nexus One users). Motorola obviously cares enough to go in and smooth out the user experience, so good on them.
Wow, Motorola! You've done it again. Enough with the all caps.
@ChrisZ, Regarding your statement "We're not totally clear on why these guys need this on top of the Android Market," um, everything else I've read everywhere else says there is NO Android Market in China. Probably like there's no YouTube either.
As for those castigating Motorola, frankly, it was Google's moral stance that put them in a predicament. They're trying to save their freakin' company and Google pulled the rug out from underneath THEM. They've already launched two Android phones in China and were launching another this week which Google PULLED along with a Samsung Android.
Hey, I'm with Google on the moral stance, but when you own a company on the brink and your second major market gets pulled out from underneath you, one for which you've already allocated dollars and production to, by your partner...well, good for them for having a fall back plan. A Droid type Android is too connected to Google not to matter. That's some major de-linkage that has to occur to even make it sale-able in a country without Google.