TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - After exited China in 2010 Google is said to look some ways to bring back its online store Google Play to the country. The tentative plan becomes important step for Google which exited China after disagreement with the country’s government over data security and search censors.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that in recent months, Google representatives in Asia told makers of apps for its Android mobile-operating system that it hopes to unveil a new app store in China to help them distribute their apps and games more efficiently, according to two people briefed on its plans.
In Google’s absence, there are multiple Android app stores in China, spawning piracy and prompting many developers to hire large teams just to manage relations with the stores. To bring order to the app chaos in China, and boost revenue, Google wants to open a version of its Play Store there, offering a single entry point through which Android apps and games could be distributed, one developer briefed on the plan said.
However, the tech giant spokeswoman declined to comment and many predicted the step would face many obstacles.
“Google would be entering very late into a heavily populated market with very strong major players,” said Mark Natkin, managing director of Chinese research firm Marbridge Consulting to The Wall Street Journal.
Google may need to team up with local developers to realize its plan, according to people familiar with the plan. Working with a Chinese partner that would run the app store and split revenue with Google might help the company with censorship issues, said a former Google executive.
Previously, The Information reported Google’s effort to approach Chinese companies such as Huwaei and ZTE. ZTE’s spokesman declined to comment on this news.
THE WALLSTREET JOURNAL | SATWIKA MOVEMENTI
