China Unicom won't use Google's search engine on Android phones
By Darren Murph 
posted March 25th 2010 4:41PM
posted March 25th 2010 4:41PM
Oh, brother. This just keeps getting better and better, and by "better and better," we mean "uglier and uglier." Google's abrupt decision to stop censoring results in China and redirect users on the mainland to the outfit's Hong Kong portal has stirred up all sorts of tense feelings around the globe, and if you thought this whole war would be confined to the desktop, you were sorely mistaken. China Unicom, which is gearing up to present its customer base with a few more smartphone options with Android loaded on, recently announced that it wouldn't be using Google as the search engine on those very phones. Lu Yimin, president of the operator, was quoted as saying that his company was "willing to work with any company that abides by Chinese law," but that it didn't have "any cooperation with Google currently." Granted, this is just the latest in a series of blows to Android's proliferation in the world's biggest nation, but you can really tell it's getting personal now. C'mon guys -- can't we just hug it out?
Uh... irony?
well for some reason, ATT loaded yahoo search on the backflip.
Big Orange turning into Big Red?
@r34p3r The business has to roll I guess, sadly they must be preparing to modify the Android OS to fit whatever their needs are.
I'm sure Steve Jobs must be cracking open a bottle of champagne as we speak.
@r34p3r
That would be American irony not international irony.
@r34p3r okay, so they're using Google software yet won't use Google search because they want to work with "well behaved" companies. WTF?
@r34p3r cmon, if u were google wouldnt u recomend to yourself to quit being a pissy pants and give that china wat they want?
@Shinzakura no matter how you slice it it is kind if strange.
@Ridgecity
Actually, this has been the real story for a few weeks now. If Google pisses off the Chinese govt, there goes its Android business in China. The surge in Apple shares was partially due to, "it looks like they have China all to themselves"
The Free Speech BS was just a PR dance.
Congrats on Engadget for finally picking up the story.
@Shinzakura I think it's not well-behaved or not, its law and regulation.
The censorship thing may be unreasonable, still, it's law.
And it’s been there long before Google went to China.
Since when can a single company ask for a negotiation with the law??
@kyrie agreed. If companies didn't heed to the government's laws, then you'll see articles of them packing up too. Unfortunately, that's just the way things are working out in China.
@r34p3r "C'mon guys -- can't we just hug it out?" I agree with that, but I guess, for Google they want to take this personally. I guess the roots of the problem is really serious. Opinions: http://bit.ly/china-and-google-battle
@r34p3r Unicom operates iPhones too, iWonder if they'll demand Apple change the default search on that.
I always read that as Chuna Unicorn...
@Cydoniac
Totally with you on that.
@Cydoniac
Except for the Chuna part.
@Cydoniac
I thought it WAS China Unicorn until just now. >_>
@Cydoniac That sounds like a great KIRF cell phone company.
Uhh, I mean China.
pah, business knows no honor
The Revenge of The Iron Curtain.....
If they wish to slide into irrelevancy and use inferior products, that's fine. Eventually they'll have to change. Global trade often has a way of doing that to oppressive governments.
@paul34 we just need to have the common sense not to condone it...
@InternetExplorer hell yeah! I never knew how much I needed a detailed picture backdrop and searches arranged by how much money has been given to Microsoft ad revenue - but now I've tried Bing(tm) and I won't ever go back! So long Google suckas and your search by relevancy nonsense!
@paul34
yes u are right. Dell moving its manufacturing to India as well.
China jailed 4 Austrailian rio tinto workers over iron ore price negotiations.
I would be delighted to see more high profile corps pull out of china. Apple im looking at uuuuu
@InternetExplorer
Ever heard of Google? Its like Bing but not a steaming pile of #$%*.
There, fixed that for you.
Ha, I agree with paul
I do not agree with the fact that China blocks certain knowledge from their citizens, but since Google doesn't block access to the knowledge in question anymore, it is kind of normal that they don't use it as search engine on a product used in their country.
Its not a dirty move to punish Google, they only apply the same rule they applied on the pc based browsers.
@kitsune
Seriously. I don't see how this is any more "personal" than it was before. I'm pretty sure everyone was expecting this to happen
@kitsune
Exactly, I don't agree with China's censoring and etc, but from their point of view: "If Google doesn't product doesn't fit our need, we'll just pick one that does"
It's just simple, but still disappointing.
@kitsune
And you have to remember, Google in China isn't what Google is here. They don't dominate search in China.
"HUG" how about we give google abit more credit for doing the right thing.
Hello...Bing!
All is not lost here. The Chinese have at least the sense and acumen not to throw a complete tantrum and reject anything with the Google badge.
Oh they're learning capitalism so well! LOL
Never by an Android from a Chinese unicorn. :)
@One Love LOL +101 that was good
Wait, so let me get this straight.. In order to punish Google, China took a tip from the AT&T playbook? Okay. Hey Chinese dudes, our more dickish companies already do that here, and they aren't even pissed at Google for anything.
@jroff hey, as a Chinese, I'd say it's not all about the censorship thing, we actually use Baidu more frequently, and B is much more popular in China than G. - my parents use Baidu all the day, I figure it's because B just has more accurate results in Chinese.
@kyrie That's true. Don't forget about respect. Google ain't giving the elders in the Chinese government any respect, so they aren't playing Google's game.
The chinese are slapping Google twice on its way out. LOL
?
shouldn't they be using an Android KIRF instead of the real thing?
it would look black or white if you trust any propoganda
Let's stop buying things made in China! Oh wait.... what can I buy then?
@ericlin
You can buy a lot more than you think but you may actually have to look at the back of the box (god forbid you have to do that much work).
I bet Apple will be next to drop Google search from their phone. They need to keep up with their anti user tactics.
@chbfiv Why would they. All I can see is Steve Jobs being angry for bringing out an equally good phone as the iPhone. Lol the Nexus One stirred up the shit in Apple land.
Android without google? That's like Apple with a pear
@InternetExplorer
LOL. It's not gonna use Bing. It'll use Baidu*
Thanks for the laugh though, first your username and then Bing.
TTTT, you have to keep in mind that the Chinese are still essentially Communist. I think that the U.S. government should start hacking their sites and taking their data (if they already aren't), and that Google should launch an information attack on Baidu, even the playing field. After all...isn't this 'economic' warfare as well?
@amesshawn
Sadly, the US is in no position to start an economic war with china. Our congress desperately needs china to keep buying our debt.
@egodfrey oh no you don't. the less we buy from them the better. the more we manufacturer ourselves the better.
BUY USA ONLY! even if your in the UK. :):):):)