Baidu to be Added as iPhone Search Engine

Baidu reportedly will be integrated into iPhone for China users, the latest move of Apple to offer Chinese consumers with more tailored local services.

Prior to this, Apple has already added many China’s home-grown services like QQMail, 163 and 126 Mail (both by NetEase). And In Mountain Lion, the company’s yet-to-launch next generation of OS X will be adding more China-centered offerings, like integrating Baidu into Safari, baking Sina Weibo, Youku and Tudou into the system for quicker sharing.

Currently Baidu holds tightly a search market share of more than 78.5% in China, according to a report by Beijing-based Internet think tank Analysys International. China is one of the largest overseas market for Apple, accounting for 20% or US$ 7.9 billion of the company’s sales last quarter.

Latest news broke that Apple plans to open two new Apple Stores in Chengdu and Shenzhen, meaning there’ll be a total of 7 Apple Stores in China soon including the two in Beijing and the three in Shanghai.