Baidu to double Japan staff

[bill]

Baidu to Swell Japan Staff and Services [jlmpacificepoch.com]

Baidu's localized search service subsidiary Baidu Japan plans to expand its 40-person project management team to 80 by the end of 2009 to improve online service planning and development, reports CCIDnet.com. The Japanese subsidiary intends to release a wireless site for mobile users this year and other services in the future, including online communities with a Q&A function and message boards that accept videos, said the report.

[redstorm]

I hope Baidu's business revenue could double too :). Has Baidu established its competition advantage over its co-workers such as Google and Yahoo in Japan?

[bill]

Not many people in Japan know who Baidu are. I think awareness of the product/service is extremely low. I heard that they recently changed their official company name to the Japanese phonetic spelling of "Baidu". That might help a little, but it's not enough to get their momentum going.

Has Baidu established its competition advantage over its co-workers such as Google and Yahoo in Japan?

Honestly, I don't think so. They have a long way to go in that regard.