Google just announced it is shutting down its Google Shopping China service. The website is still online, but Google confirmed its closure in a post on its China blog (link via Google Translate). It stated:
In order to better optimize resources, we have decided to close our shopping search service in China. The original intent of this product was to set up a bridge between consumers, retailers and traders. The impact of the product, however, did not meet our expectations. But we remain committed to helping Chinese businesses export their products to countries around the world and helping Chinese retailers use Google Shopping to reach consumers in other markets. In the future we will focus on in-app mobile advertising with AdMob, mobile and desktop display, and export-oriented search advertising.
In October, Google closed its Music Search in China after failing to fend off competition from Baidu, which signed a licensing deal with One-Stop China (a joint venture of Universal, Warner and Sony BMG). As with its music search, Google Shopping in China also faced stiff competition, including Alibaba’s own retail search service eTao. Google rival Yahoo owns a 23 percent stake in Alibaba.
Google provides search and advertising services, which together aim to organize and monetize the world’s information. In addition to its dominant search engine, it offers a plethora of online tools and platforms including: Gmail, Maps, YouTube, and Google+, the company’s extension into the social space. Most of its Web-based products are free, funded by Google’s highly integrated online advertising platforms AdWords and AdSense. Google promotes the idea that advertising should be highly targeted and relevant to users thus providing...
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