China, with highest population in the world, is too big a market to ignore for any company, even Google. This is probably why the company is trying to set its foot on the Chinese mainland once again after five years.
Google is hoping to launch a special Chinese version of its Google Play mobile app store for Android smartphones in China next year, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Regarding the timing of the launch, the sources said that it could be made some time after Chinese New Year in February next year, and before early summer. Another person at a company in China that works with Google told the media house the store will go live in 2016.
The sources also told Reuters that the company intends to abide by with Chinese laws on filtering content that might be viewed as sensitive by the ruling Communist Party, and laws requiring storing the app store's data within China.
A successful app store would be used as a launch pad for other products and services in China, two people familiar with Google's thinking told Reuters. However, the product line-up has not been decided yet.
The app store is expected to include payment options Alipay and WeChat Payment, said the person familiar with executives' thinking.
