The Google of China

If you didn't hear about the Chinese company Baidu last year during their highly profitable IPO last year, it is now time to take note. Baidu, long known as the 'Google of China' claims over 60% of search market within China, is looking to make the jump to the Japanese market.

It is time for everyone, including Google and Yahoo, whom probably already have long ago, to take note. Baidu has been aggressively expanding in China, and the move to enter a market where Google and Yahoo already combine for over 90% of the market, shows they are not content with control of just the Chinese market. Nor are they content with just the Asian market.

I took a trip to Baidu Campus in Beijing early last month and was blown away at what I saw. Not only was there a small army of highly educated, cheaply paid college graduates rabidly punching keys amongst endless rows of cubicles, but several conference rooms were jam-packed with employees polishing their business English. Executives and higher-ups looking to improve relations with investors you ask? No, nary an executive or manager who has not been foreign educated for both undergrad and grad school can be found. These Business English classes were composed of the lower ranks of the sales, marketing, and research departments. A push for the European market within the next 18 months is in the works and eyes have already been set on entry to North America market. Stay tuned....