New | NetEase may help Google to launch app store, return to China

Google is in talks to make its Google Play application store available in China, taking the first step since 2010 to return at least some of its services to the world’s largest market for mobile phones and internet services.

NetEase, China’s second-largest operator of online games, has approached Google about forming a venture to launch Google Play in China, The Information reported, citing people familiar with the discussions, without identifying them. Google’s spokesperson in Hong Kong declined to comment, while NetEase officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Talk had been swirling for years in internet circles about Google returning parts of its business to the world’s most populous market, ever since it withdrew its search engine from China after clashes with Chinese censors over search results, and following a 2010 cyberattack on users of its Gmail email service.

Google needed a Chinese partner that could help it navigate the intricacies of operating in China, Alphabet’s chairman Eric Schmidt had previously said.

“Partnering with Google to launch the Google Play store in China means that NetEase can also launch its apps in the store to gain traffic and user base,” said Kitty Fok, managing director for IDC China.

Google Play will still have to abide strictly by the Chinese government’s censorship rules, she said.

Google Play surpassed Apple Inc’s App Store in 2013 as the world’s largest market place for obtaining mobile applications, with 2.2 million apps published and 50 billion downloads, according to Phonearena.com