Motorola to Introduce Its Own Android App Store in Partnership with Baidu in China

Google’s (presently in embittered political tussle with the Chinese government) decision to postpone a Motorola Android phone launch in China has spurred Motorola to reveal that it will introduce its own Android apps store for the Chinese market. Motorola is teaming up with China’s search engine leader Baidu and will start up Shop4Apps, which is set to go live before Chinese New Year (February 14th).

Since Google collaborated with Motorola and Samsung on their two phones that currently hang in limbo, the worldwide search engine corporation had the authority to veto their plans to release these particular devices. Other companies do not require Google’s approval for their Android launches, provided that they do not use Google’s built-in apps.

By creating its own apps store and working with Baidu, Motorola is extricating itself from Google’s dispute with the Chinese regime. Motorola has enormous stakes in China and definitely wants to pursue its goals in the fastest growing economy on Earth. I expect other companies like Samsung to follow suit and to announce their independence from Google for their Android smartphones. Motorola’s move has likely been brewing for months, but Google’s recent Chinese struggles might have expedited the company’s plans.

Sources: Shop4Apps, Reuters