Baidu ushers in the 1000 yuan smartphone era

Beijing, May 15, 2012 – Leading Chinese search engine Baidu today unveiled the Changhong H5018, a new smartphone powered by the Baidu Cloud Smart Terminal platform. The handset, manufactured by Foxconn and released in cooperation with China Unicom, will sell for less than RMB 1000 and will be available for purchase through designated channels nationwide in the very near future.

The release of this Baidu Cloud-powered phone will bring personalized smart Cloud services to the mass market. By leveraging Baidu’s leading Cloud Computing technology and Baidu’s leading position in China’s mobile Internet market, manufacturers will also realize significant cost savings.

As a critical piece of Baidu’s overall Cloud strategy, the Baidu Cloud Smart Terminal platform fully integrates the core technologies of Baidu Cloud Computing, including Baidu’s numerous Cloud-based applications, its Personal Cloud Storage service, and its multi-terminal, multi-application software platform capabilities.

The Baidu Cloud Smart Terminal platform includes intelligent search, secure and dependable Cloud services, and specialized Baidu applications as well as personalized location-based services. Baidu has integrated traditional search with voice recognition search and handwriting input, allowing users from all walks of life to enjoy a Cloud-based search experience that lets them simply speak to search.

Chief among the Cloud-based services that Baidu Cloud offers, Baidu will provide every purchaser of the handset with 100 gigs of free personal storage through Baidu Netdrive.  This will allow users to capture multimedia content and upload it instantly to the Cloud. In addition, the handset will include Baidu Music, Baidu Map, Baidu Mobile IME (input method editor) and other mainstream applications. It will also include the Baidu Cloud Store, with access to a huge range of applications. Additionally, the Baidu Cloud Smart Terminal platform provides mobile data monitoring, pre-pay credit recharge, and many other convenient services.

In terms of hardware, the Changhong H5018 comes in a range of vibrant neon colored casings, features a 3.5” touch screen, offers 3G connectivity, and guarantees fast and seamless image processing and quick screen response. The phone also boasts a 3 megapixel camera, a large 1400mAh battery capacity, and many other standard features. The H5018 is built using Foxconn’s unibody mobile handset design. It promises an excellent mobile Internet experience and access to a world of mobile entertainment at a very low price.

Baidu VP of engineering Jing WANG said, “The Baidu Cloud Smart terminal platform is a crucial step in Baidu’s overall Cloud strategy in the mobile Internet sphere. It is not only meant to create a high quality, smart mobile experience for users, but also, more importantly, it will significantly lower manufacturing costs for many mobile manufacturers and cooperating partners. Baidu is joining hands with hardware vendors, terminal manufacturers, developers and others in the industry so that everyone along the whole value chain is a winner.”

Besides Dell and Changhong, many other mainstream mobile brands are also in close contact with Baidu and plan to release smartphones utilizing Baidu’s Cloud technology at various price points. Baidu’s continuing upgrade of its software platform will increase its capacity to collaborate with mobile manufacturers. The release of the latest highly affordable smartphone marks the beginning of closer integration between Internet and device companies. It marks the arrival of a new era, and the beginning of the thousand-yuan smartphone market.

Press Inquiries:
Kaiser Kuo
Director, International Communications, Baidu
Kaiser.Kuo@Baidu.com
(Tel) (86-10) 5992-8419

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