Google: Getting Mapped Out of China? 谷歌地图：会退出中国市场吗？

By newsdoug on February 2, 2012

Google awaits China map license When you’re the world’s biggest Internet company even the smallest hiccups can make headlines, which is what Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) seems to be learning amid a flurry of chatter about the future of its online mapping service in China. The current saga actually began last year, when China required all mapping service providers to get new licenses, and it wasn’t clear whether Google would apply, leading some to predict another high-profile pull-out could be coming after the company moved its China search site to Hong Kong in 2010. (previous post) Google didn’t say much throughout the saga, perhaps due to the sensitivity of the matter, but eventually word got out that it had set up a joint venture as required by Beijing and indeed applied for a license. What has the world buzzing now is that a February 1 deadline has now passed for all mapping service providers to get their licenses, but Google still has yet to receive one. Reports have sprung up in the Chinese media like weeds in the last 2 days, most simply quoting the regulator saying Google has yet to receive its license without any further explanation. (Chinese article; English article) Of course, the lack of a reason has everyone guessing what is happening, with the implication that Google and Beijing are once again at an impasse similar to the one that saw it withdraw from the China search market. The only problem with all these theories is they make no sense, as there’s clearly no censorship issues, which were the major point of contention in the search dispute, involved with the mapping business. One of the more rational reports out is saying the delay is being caused by a technical issue, namely that some people at Google’s mapping venture are still waiting to get necessary clearances for the license to be issued. Clearly Beijing and Google have very little to gain from another high-profile spat, which is probably the reason both are trying to keep a low profile until the license is finally granted, which I fully expect in the next month or 2. In the meantime, look for the noisy Chinese media to keep printing conspiracy stories about what would be an insignificant story if it was about anyone else besides Google. At the end of the day, Google is still firmly committed to China, and, as I said at one point last year, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ultimately returned its search engine business to the country over the medium- to longer-term. (previous post)

Bottom line: Google’s failure to get a China mapping license before a February 1 deadline is most likely due to administrative issues, and it is likely to get the license in the next 1-2 months.

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