Microsoft partners with Baidu for Windows 10 in China

[bill]

Windows 10 in China [blogs.windows.com]

Together, we will make it easy for Baidu customers to upgrade to Windows 10 and we will deliver a custom experience for customers in China, providing local browsing and search experiences. Baidu.com will become the default homepage and search for the Microsoft Edge browser in Windows 10. Baidu’s new Windows 10 distribution channel, Baidu “Windows 10 Express” will make it easy for Chinese Internet users to download an official Windows 10 experience. Additionally, Baidu will deliver Universal Windows Applications for Search, Video, Cloud and Maps for Windows 10.

[engine]

There's an interesting fact there that is worth highlighting - Microsoft drops Bing as default search for Baidu in China.

[bill]

Bing was never that good with Chinese search to begin with. Back in 2012, they even de-emphasized their Chinese language search to focus on the English language portion of the China market [techinasia.com...] Suffice it to be said that Bing market share in China was never too significant, so they aren't really losing that much. The Baidu tie-up should make Windows 10 more attractive to the average Chinese user.

This comes at a time when the Chinese government is trying to replace Windows with their own home-grown OS NeoKylin [qz.com], and there are rumours that Baidu is considering de-listing from the US stock market.

[engine]

Yes, this really is a strategic move to get Windows 10 adoption, which is a bigger fish than Bing search, especially if Bing doesn't have a strong market share. No real loss, but much more to gain.

I hadn't heard much about the new OS, but that will make inroads, so again, this move helps win market share.

[J_RaD]

im sure the chinese gov had nothing to do with this.

[bill]

Not saying that the Chinese government had a hand in this Microsoft/Baidu deal. I was just noting that they have been promoting a somewhat home-grown Chinese language operating system over Windows.