Google recently had sparked its chances to grow in the Chinese market as it noted that its revenue was on the rise, but it seems that their Chinese happiness was short-lived. Reason being that its Android market and Android’s Gmail app have been restricted in the mainland of China. This was noted according to Blocked in China, a Web site that tracks whether URLs are accessible across five major provinces in the country–Beijing, Shenzhen, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang and Yunnan. There is no update as to why the marketplace has been blocked. However, MocoNews assumes that it could be due to the recent meeting between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Google+ Hangouts.
Noting about the block, ZDNet Asia was briefed in an email by Ben Cavender, associate principal with China Market Research, that the move would hurt both Google and consumers. Cavender even noted that Google’s struggle in China has continued for quite some time now and with this, it would spoil Google’s market further.
Android users in China have been experiencing the same while trying to access Google’s Android Market. This has been restricting the users in terms of choice, but a bigger set back would be for Google, as its Chinese market is on a low, and this would make it worse for Google. If the restriction continues for a long time frame, Android users might be forced to switch over from Android powered devices to their alternatives.
This might ring bells for even Apple and Windows Phone, as they can see an opportunity as problems for Google continues. Additionally, Google even is facing stiff competition from local Chinese companies such as Baidu, Alibaba and startup Xiaomi. These companies are coming up with their own versions of Android-based operating systems paired with cheap, feature-rich handsets. This can be noted as Cavender explained, “The mobile market in China is incredibly competitive and consumers upgrade their phones every nine months on average. This means that they can very quickly migrate to another hardware provider or operating system (OS) if they are not happy.”
Google has poured in a lot of investments in the Chinese market, to penetrate it with its products, but it has not yet paid off. Its investments via the development of Android was its best bet to grow its Chinese market, but being blocked here again can end the road for Google’s Chinese success. Additionally, its investments in Android have been its considerable source in the Internet usage and advertising via mobile devices and losing out on the Chinese market, would mark a big loss as it would lose out on a big consumer market.
Earlier, Google’s social networking site, Google Plus was even blocked in China, which has been blocked since it was launched and it continues to be blocked. Google could still afford that loss as Google Plus is still not at its developed best, but Android block would hurt Google severely as it has been in the handsets of many Chinese consumers too.
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