Alibaba takes on Baidu with Chinese search engine eTao
Alibaba has launched a new search engine called eTao, as China’s largest e-commerce company looks to take on Baidu in the search market.
China
eBay plans China and Japan shopping spree
EBay is looking at acquisition opportunities in Japan and China, as the online marketplace looks to expand in the lucrative Asian markets.
Google shuts down Slide one year after acquisition
Google is shutting down Slide, the social app maker it bought for $200m last year, after its products failed to catch on.
Hotwire launches PR-based affiliate network
Communications consultancy Hotwire has launched an enhanced global affiliate network incorporating Active PR (Middle East), East Side Consulting (Eastern Europe), Influencer PR (China), Nordic PR (The Nordics), Rice Communications (SE Asia) and Six Degrees PR (India).
Zynga expands to China without Facebook
Zynga is to create a Chinese version of its CityVille game, despite its platform of choice, Facebook, being blocked in the territory.
iPad and emerging markets boost Apple profits
Apple’s profits more than doubled in the latest quarter to $7.31 billion, driven by strong sales in emerging markets and the breakout success of the iPad.
China: Number of websites ‘halves in 1 year’
The number of websites in China almost halved last year, as increasing online censorship laws take their toll, according to new research.
Right to reply: Baidu deal shows Bing expansion
This week, Microsoft announced a major partnership with Chinese search engine provider Baidu. Horst Joepen, CEO of search analytics company Searchmetrics looks at what this means for the market, and in particular for Microsoft’s ongoing attempts to overhaul Google in search.
Microsoft partners Baidu for English-language search
Microsoft has struck a deal with Chinese search giant Baiduto offer its English-language search functions to Chinese users.
Mobile payments users 'to reach 2.5 billion globally by 2015'
A new report by analyst firm Juniper Research forecasts that the number of mobile phone users making payments for digital goods will reach 2.5 billion worldwide by 2015, up from 1.8bn forecast for 2011, representing a growth of 40%.