Rumor: Tencent and Alibaba to Release Own Search Engines
Netease Tech, 7/09/09
An informed source has revealed that internet titans Tencent (0700.HK) and Alibaba may each release their own independent search engines.
Tencent spokesperson Song Yang said that while search engines will play an ever greater role in Tencent's product line, he could not comment on whether or not the company would release its own engine, nor on when such a product might be released, adding that Tencent "does not currently have any information to release."
Reports say Chen Hua, founder of vertical search engine Kuxun, joined Alibaba in April to focus on applications and research for search technology. In June, Lin Hao, a member of download software maker Xunlei's core technology team, joined Alibaba to take charge of the B2B company's community platforms and search technology research. Alibaba has to date not confirmed reports of the two men joining the company.
Editor's Note: Tencent, whose Soso brand search service is currently powered by Google, has been preparing to develop its own search engine since last year, but put the plan on hold when the global financial crisis hit in November. It has reportedly renewed its contract with Google for 2009, but, according to industry sources, has started to revive related work now in H2. It is also rumored that Tencent's efforts to develop its own search engine have good support from parts of the Chinese government, which would like to see another domestic competitor to Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU).
Keywords: Song Yang 0700.HK Alibaba B2B Chen Hua Internet Kuxun Tencent vertical search e-commerce online search Baidu BIDU
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