Google cancels the Chinese launch of two new Android handsets

By on Jan 19, 2010 at 1:51 PM
News January 19, 2010

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Google’s Android mobile platform is now officially caught in the crossfire in the major row between Google and the Chinese government. Google played its Android card by announcing Tuesday morning that it is postponing the January 20th launch of two new Google Experience handsets with China Unicom. Google reportedly felt it was “irresponsible” to release the two offerings from Motorola and Samsung when its future in China is on such tenuous ground. Left sitting on the sidelines and remaining silent are China Unicom, Motorola, and Samsung, all of whom have declined to comment on the matter.

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  • Gustav

    China’s is always rough to deal with.

  • Gustav

    China’s? Phone auto correct…

  • Jose Herrera

    If google is out of china, where would the gmail apps on android devices in the region connect to? Or would it just be the search that is gone? O_o

  • Sal

    Funny

    Google think they can control the world. They have no clue!

    Al ot to learn

    • Konklifer

      Actually…China thinks they can control everything. Looks like they are learning the lesson.

      • Laz

        This is a good lesson for China. I do buy goods from China and they feel that the US will buy whatever they serve!

      • http://www.accommodate-me.co.nz steve

        I thought it was the US who thought they were the world’s sheriff.

    • Mikee

      Oh yeah, by standing up against the censorship of an oppressive regime, Google is trying to control the world. That makes perfect sense.. if you’re a crackhead.

  • bonesb

    Wouldn’t be surprised to see clones – G00gle Android N900S (or something wacky like that) – by the end of the month…

  • Sam

    To El Goog: Just, you know, send the phones over to AT&T here in the states. I’m missing Android right about now.

  • 1ofdakoolkidz

    I feel bad for Moto and Samsung, basically Google can control their money on an OPEN SOURCE platform, that’s crazy!

  • Ar-Kar

    Google is gonna miss out the huge chunk of world market if they stand on their ground on this one. Google got economic reason to play this card. Google market share of 30% is weak compare to Baidu’s 70%. Google is planning to catch up with Baidu by offering uncensored content (Great move if you ask me, remind me of Casino Royal poker game). Google, first , failed to properly catered to Chinese audience because, simply put, you need to be Asian to understand us. Second, Yahoo was pretty strong in Asia but if Google wants to step in, they need to choose only one thing. Human right or Market share, frankly speaking, human right is a bump in history, it’ll soon past out. But it is difficult to gain market share from established industry. Once China properly opens up in future, Baidu will not have difficultly dismantling filters. But Google might have difficult time regaining even 30% share back. That ‘s future might be 50 years or 100 years, but that how we Asian think.

    • Ben Hsu

      I don’t think Google will have any problems either way, they’ve buying up Baidu in the back. So one way or another they’ll have a hold of the Chinese market, through their own company or otherwise.

      • Ar-Kar

        We will have to see how China will response. These guys don’t take these ting lightly. Trust me, my country is bordering with China, these guy rarely forgive anything. Although, its hard get a “Thanks You” from them.

      • Mike

        Did you just type “ting”.

      • Mikee

        Did you just ask a question without putting a question mark after it?

        Grammar nazi fail.

      • http://www.accommodate-me.co.nz steve

        Google has now sold all their shares in Baidu.

    • http://www.accommodate-me.co.nz steve

      So does this mean Google will now NOT manufacture or purchase manufactured goods from China?

      I bet not. They will continue to profit from China’s low waged economy to build their server farms and mobile phones.

      Half a**ed effort if you ask me.

    • mg

      Don’t forget that Google’s 30 percent share was earned in only 4 short years. Talk about speed (according to your long term-visioning). It’s market share increase continues to go up. Ultimately, the problem is just that Google probably got fed up with doing business with so many restrictions, not to mention it was getting hated against by human right groups. I don’t expect you to understand why, nor agree with it, but in the west we believe that life and the respect of every person is a God given right, and that is why the west tries to encourage China to respect all people of the world, including their own. To Chinese people, this may not mean much, but to most Americans, it is one of the most important things in life.

      Maybe one day you will understand why life is important.

  • James

    China should know not to fuck with the most used search engine in the world.

  • Mike

    Google only is trying to cancel competitors (Motorola and Samsung) from taking market share from them. This is a clear ploy so they can get the NexusOne ready to be delivered.

    • Ben Hsu

      You know Google doesn’t actually make the NexusOne right? HTC builds that phone.

    • Charles A

      And I wouldn’t exactly call Motorola and Samsung competitors of Google seeing as both companies have multiple phones that run Google’s Android OS.

    • http://www.accommodate-me.co.nz steve

      Until Google learns customer service and that most people prefer to touch and feel a product before buying it, I think Motorola and Samsung have little to worry about.

  • Mrwirez

    Google is missing revenue? They have more than Apple and Microsoft combined. The Chinese people are the ones missing out the most.

    http://www.computerbytesman.com/google/imagesearch.htm?tiananmen

    PRC=super censors…

    • Laz

      Just a question, I do not have any information and put this out to see if anyone does. What is the percentage of official licensed goods vs. counterfeit goods do they use (hardware & software)?

    • Ar-Kar

      Why does west always like to dwell on only negative point of the other history? Tiananmen was there long before 89 massacre, its search should not only focus on a single bloodshed. The United State congress was build by slaves and force labor. Why doesn’t it said “Built by slaves FOR FREEDOM”. Does any western countries actually blame Britain and French for colonial? What British done to the world is a lot worst than what NAZI done to Jew. Jews got killed but a lot of countries culture and history got destroyed because of them. In Burma, there was king and parliament before UK invade and disturbed our democratization process.

      • finnjake

        You actually (apparently without you yourself noticing it) made a very good point about why what google is doing is right. The 89 massacre is cencored out in china, so discussion of it is not allowed. The colonialism on the other hand is an openly discussed fact in the rest of the world and even brits acknowledge that colonialism was bad and bad crimes were made.
        You see, acknowledging mistakes makes you an honest person capable of learning from mistakes. Chinese don’t acknowledge Tiananmien, Tibet or that Taiwan is a sovereign state. That makes the whole nation seem dishonest. By cencoring the issues they’re making it even worse. Otherwise the issues would likely simmer to background noise and accepted fact.

      • tom

        @ finnjake

        I think you spoke too much. Because of this, BGR will soon be banned in China.

        Nevertheless, I absolutely agree with you POV.

      • Ar-Kar

        If I have to guess, Google is gambling and Chinese government has not has clue on how to handle this situation at this moment, yet. I am very much surprise that Chinese hasn’t responded by shutting down Google. I guess there is a moderated force in there that want a compromise with Google. As far as I know, they(Chinese) hasn’t responded to tariffs on tires and steel imported. It was a great gamble on Obama administration and it paid off. Now Google is testing the water in further step. I am very much interested to see how this will play out.
        And I don’t think China will ban BGR because I am sure a lot of Red Hackers enjoy reading BGR and they are the back bone of PLA army now. And the only thing that stand a chance against U.S military might.

      • Ar-Kar

        I have to agree with you on this one. Censoring is making its worse. The more you hide, the more people would want to look. Politic is not first in people mind, especially in Asia.Covering up make it more attractive. But just for thought, is Saudi Arabia has more freedom than Iran? Iran is a quarter Democracy or close to one third of Democracy. Saudi got none the freedom in choosing their leader. I truly believe that current Iran president CHEATED this election. At least, opposition got a chance to form party. Saudi got none, but that is not how the public view Saudi and Iran on human right issue. Some how every body think Saudi got better deal than Iran.
        I admit meeting a British who claimed colonialism was bad, but I also see a lot of British who said colonial was like humanitarian mission. (one of them claimed his grandfather was involved in railroad construction which we had a contract with French to build one before they invaded.) Do you think British built those thing out of love for us or their own benefit. My great grandfather told me he was not allowed to ride in first class seat even when he could pay for it.

  • mi_canuck

    take that Chiner!

  • mrdudeguy

    go google, FIGHT THE POWER!

    • boogalooboy

      Yes, I can just see the same thing being said if this was a move by MS.

  • Dara

    Yeah go Google, finally.

    Too bad about the 4 years of following the orders of the Chinese government and abusing their western reputation as a purveyor of free information to give cover to atrocites.

    Why do people focus on the things that China does wrong?

    Because when the biggest nations sit down at a table to politely discuss the workings of the world, you have to ask about the guy that consistently shows up with his own people’s blood all over his hands.

    Sure he’s using a very nice silk handkerchief to wipe it off his expensive suit, but in reality, the civility is a show and the blood is real.

    • mg

      wow. do you even know what you’re saying? you make it seem like the U.S. government doesn’t have innocent civilian lives in their hands? Keep in mind that most forms of government have to do evil things to preserve their way of being. I’m not saying China is right or wrong in what they do, but i’m not hypocritical enough to say they are “bloody” killers…

  • ifone et

    Yay! Now they can all get iPhones and everyone lives happily ever after.

  • Shotinthenads

    China is evil. Why are we doing business with this country? The govt. of China is hacking into Defense Department and into many of our automated power stations. They are continuously looking for weaknesses in our country. For what reason? Do some research on China and what they are spending their new found wealth on. Also dig through some layers on the Goog and see that they are developing first strike capabilities. …paid for by us-through our appetites for cheap goods.

    • dude

      don’t be so naive, every govt does this, the only difference is that China got caught and google is trying to play hero.

      you’re a fool if you don’t think we don’t have a crapload of people working around the clock doing the same thing to other govts and major corps.

      • http://www.accommodate-me.co.nz steve

        Yes I remember George Bush passing a law only a few years back giving them power to search anyone’s email address in the US (or tapping your phones).

      • mg

        seriously, our government probably does worst things we aren’t even aware of…. both are playing the same game, just some are better at hiding it.

        I remember hearing from a Chinese person “In China, the government is always spreading propaganda, but the people can easily recognize it cause it always sounds the same, and people just throw a deaf ear to it. In the U.S. the government is always spreading propaganda, but people never even realize it, so they just accept it blindly.” I think we call it “marketing” here though, so propaganda might not be a good word. ;-)

    • Head Honcho

      Shotinthenads you sound a bit paranoid. You think the US doesn’t hack in to other countries or spy either? That kind of stuff goes both ways to some extent. I am American but living in China right now. China blamed the US and Western countries for the riots in Tibet and the Uigurs. They will never admit people here aren’t getting fair treatmen and it is their own fault. They will always deny everything. But then you look at the US government and we aren’t far off from that, Weapons of mass destruction.

  • http://www.hyundaifans.com hyundaifans.com

    To me this sounds more like the Chinese government putting their foot down and telling Google they cant launch the phones unless they bow down and kiss the premier’s ass. Don’t do it Google. Pull out from China instead!

  • mingkee

    China Communist is simply evil.
    They can just throw Lao into prison for 11 years for just made up “08 Bill”.
    We still need to find evidence that the China Communist funded Al-Qadea for 9/11 and all anti-US terrorist attack.

  • http://leifandersen.net Leif Andersen

    Again, so much for android being an open source platform, if Google can stop two companies form release a phone with it.

    • Legshot

      They can control “Google Experience handsets”, because they contain parts and programs which are NOT part of android and NOT open source (e.g.: the native gmail app)!

    • mg

      haha. true dat.

  • Capt America

    WTF is up with all the moaists and America haters up in here? Y’all can go chew on some tainted Chinese dog food.

    • mingkee

      Mao is a human form of Satan or Lucifer

    • dude

      what are you talking about, who is hating on America?

      And you should probably go find out what a Maoist is before talking about it.

  • BMOC

    China could care less. I’m sure the Chinese will figure out a way to copy Google sell it back to the United States cheaper at a major retail chain in every city. Andriod knock off phones coming soon.

  • biasedboygenius

    In Republic of China….Google owns you!

  • rederikus

    The big danger here is that by upsetting the Chinese now, Google may find themselves out in the cold forever. Even so, this is the right thing to do give the brutal censorship that the Chinese undertake.

    The other danger is that the Chinese will simply make their own handsets at lower cost and flood their own and then our market with them in a few years. Make no mistake, the nasty and cheap knock offs we see today WILL get better over the years.

  • Head Honcho

    Miguel you don’t know what you are talking about. There are pretty strict labor laws in China. The problem is many people working do not know these laws and never push for them to be enforced. That or they know they will have a very hard time finding another job so better not rock the boat. The bigger problem over the last year has been foreign companies running factories here in China just taking off when they run out of money and leaving the workers with no pay for months. Then the Chinese Government has to step in to compensate them to avoid riots. It was not just foreign run factories but all the ones around mine that closed were.

  • Mike

    Screw Walmart. I haven’t shopped there in four years. Go to Target instead. They have hotter chics.

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