Microsoft collaborates with Baidu to introduce Windows 10 in China

Microsoft announced a partnership with Chinese Web giant Baidu to bring Windows 10 to China. Often referred to as the Google of China, Baidu is one of the most commonly used Internet browsers in the country.

The dominant Chinese search engine has some 600 million active users accounting for over 92 percent of all Internet users in China. With this collaboration, Baidu customers will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 with its personalised local Chinese browsing and search experiences.

Baidu.com will become the official default homepage for Microsoft’s Edge Browser in Windows 10. The partnership will lead to a new distribution channel called “Windows 10 Express” that will help Chinese Internet users download Windows 10.

Baidu will also deliver Universal Windows Applications for Search, Maps, Cloud and Video for Windows 10, said Microsoft.

“Our focus has been on delivering a great upgrade experience for our customers and through partnerships with Tencent, a leading social networking and gaming service in the world; Qihoo 360, a leading internet security company in China; and Lenovo, one of the world’s leading PC manufacturers – we’re off to a great start in China,” wrote Yusuf Mehdi, Windows and devices vice president in a blog post.

In March, Xiaomi, on of the top smartphone distributors in the world, entered into a “program” with Microsoft to test Windows 10 before its release. A select group of Xiaomi Mi 4 users was invited to help test Windows 10 and provide feedback. On Tuesday, Xiaomi also said it will adopt Windows Azure to provide cloud services for Mi Cloud.

Acknowledging that China is rapidly becoming the “global epicentre for innovation”, Microsoft wants to work with leading hardware and software development companies to aggressively push its latest operating system.

Windows 10 was launched on July 29 and the company claims 75 million devices are running the OS across the globe. Microsoft aims to reach out to 1 billion devices in 2018. It confirms that “over 10 million devices already running Windows 10” in China where hundreds of millions of PCs use Windows.

Microsoft also announced a partnership with leading companies and government institutions, including Unisplendour Corporation cloud solutions and services via 21Vianet Group (Microsoft's cloud partner in China); CETC for the configuration, deployment and maintenance of Windows 10 and Shanghai Oriental Pearl Media Company for incorporating Office 365 operated by 21Vianet.

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