Baidu Plans To Launch Instant Messaging Service "Baidu Hi"

[engine]

China's top search engine Baidu.com Inc said it plans to launch an instant messaging service, called "Baidu Hi."

Baidu Plans To Launch Instant Messaging Service "Baidu Hi" [uk.reuters.com]

[edited by: bill at 1:43 am (utc) on Mar. 1, 2008]
[edit reason] fix spelling [/edit]

[bill]

Last time I checked Tencent QQ was the IM of choice in China. MSN Messenger was quite popular as well. I wonder if the new Baidu service will be compatible with other IM platforms or whether they'll be using a completely proprietary platform.

[asseab]

I like QQ

[goodsite]

It will hit surely because Baidu is very popular in China.

[bill]

But IM platforms are very personal. If you've already got most of your friends on one platform, like QQ, what's the incentive to move to a new platform?

[bill]

Here's an article with a bit more information about Baidu's IM offering:

Baidu says 'Hi' with IM testing [chinadaily.com.cn]

Baidu said on Friday in a press release it has started internal tests of its IM product "Baidu Hi", which only Baidu employees who have submitted applications through internal networks can get approval to download.

...

A Baidu spokesperson said the company does not have a schedule for launching its IM service.

...

Tencent, a Shenzhen-based company that runs the QQ platform holds about 80 percent of China's IM industry.

[lecter]

Baidu Bar,a BBS users donnt have to register is popular among young students in China.

[Shak]

Bill

You are correct that QQ is the app of Choice indeed, in fact there are MORE QQ accounts than Internet users in China.

Interesting move by Baidu, after all Google did do the same with Gchat right, everyone did have MSN :)

Let''s wait and see

Shak

[Grant77]

ask a question?
are all people here Chinese?

[bill]

are all people here Chinese?

No. We have members from all over the world here.

[redstorm]

i don't like its name: "baidu hi"