Feature
Baidu and Microsoft are currently content partners in search. Microsoft's Bing search engine delivers English-language search results in Baidu. A recent Bloomberg interview with Baidu senior vice president Haoyu Shen points toward plans for expanding their partnership beyond delivery of English content. Shen says Baidu is developing products in 12 foreign languages, although the company is not giving specifics on which languages these are, or when the company plans to roll out the products.
What's clear at this point is that Baidu is working out a strategic agreement with Microsoft for search-engine operations, according to to local paper Donews.com. Baidu's Shen says the company "won't rule out" the possibility that this collaboration can be expanded into other products or other territories.
Just How Big is Baidu?
Google is undoubtedly the dominant search engine worldwide, with an 82.8% share, compared with Baidu's 4.89%. However, the Chinese company is the top destination for search in its own turf. Baidu enjoys a 75.8% share of the Chinese search market, compared with Google's 19.2%. Bing has only a 1% slice of the pie, although the Microsoft-Baidu partnership is expected to help improve this figure.
Learning Opportunities
Webinar
Jun
13
The Future of Contact Centers with AI at the Helm
Learn how to balance human intuition and interaction with the potential uses of AI to create delightful and lasting CX
Webinar
Jun
13
Learn How to Deliver Dynamic Video Experiences at Scale
Learn how to convert existing assets into video experiences in near real-time.
Webinar
Jun
20
3 Steps to Unlock Your Customer Data and Drive Revenue
Discover how Twilio Segment’s #1 Customer Data Platform helps implement data-driven strategies.
Webinar
Jun
21
Retail Reinvented: A Masterclass in Creating Digital Experiences That Click
Hear how online retailers architect their digital experience infrastructure for peak traffic and demand
Webinar
Jun
21
The Feedback Loop: Accelerating Personalization for Exemplary Customer Experiences
Are you ready to harness the power of feedback in your personalization strategy?
Webinar
Jun
22
How to Succeed in Today's Engagement Economy
Doing true personalization at scale with marketing automation
Webinar
Jun
13
The Future of Contact Centers with AI at the Helm
Learn how to balance human intuition and interaction with the potential uses of AI to create delightful and lasting CX
Webinar
Jun
13
Learn How to Deliver Dynamic Video Experiences at Scale
Learn how to convert existing assets into video experiences in near real-time.
A study by the Millward Brown Group estimates Baidu's market valuation at US$ 22.56 billion, and continues to be a profitable venture. Baidu also ranks 29th among the world's top 100 brands, according to MBG's BrandZ.
Is Baidu Up for the Challenge?
While this doesn't necessarily mean Baidu is bound to be a "Google killer," it might make a dent in Google's search dominance, at least in markets where Baidu can make a significant brand presence. Google is not invincible, as evident with how the big G is starting to slip in the US market. For instance, Bing-powered searches in the US -- which include Bing.com and Yahoo.com -- are already growing by 5% per month, with Google searches slipping 3% monthly. If Google sits on its laurels and leaves this trend unchecked, it might see itself lose in its own game.
Still, Baidu itself is mum on whether it does intend to challenge Google internationally. What's clear at this point is that the partnership with Microsoft will be a catalyst to speeding up an international expansion. For Google, Baidu will be something to watch out for.
