The U.S. technology firm has been experimenting with new inroads
to the China, where the majority of it products including its
internet search engine, email and app store are blocked by
Chinese authorities over censorship concerns.
Last year, Google launched its 'Google Translate' app in China,
and in May it added a file management app to several app stores
run by local Chinese firms, a first for the company.
The latest product, Caihua Xiaoge, is a drawing game based on
Google's AI image recognition technology, and is a WeChat 'mini
app', which works only within Tencent's WeChat. Several foreign
firms, including Starbucks Corp, have also launched mini apps.
Google in January announced a patent licensing deal with Tencent
with the intention of collaborating further in the Chinese
market. Last month, the U.S. firm also invested $550 million in
JD.com Inc, China's second most valuable e-commerce firm which
also counts Tencent as an investor.
While it is unlikely Google will be able to open its global
search engine in China, the firm is experimenting with less
controversial projects in the market. In January it participated
in a $120 million investment round by live-stream mobile game
platform Chushou.
(Reporting by Cate CadellEditing by Christopher Cushing)
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