Baidu, Qualcomm enable new online service for Android device users

Baidu, the country's biggest internet search services provider, and Qualcomm are offering a free online storage service on the mainland for devices powered by the semiconductor company's latest Snapdragon processors.

The service covers mainland-sold smartphones and media tablets that run Google's Android operating system and are built with either the 8x25 or 8x25Q Snapdragon chip.

Users will get up to 30 gigabytes of storage space from the "Baidu Cloud" service platform for the lifespan of the device. The service provides users an online hub where they can securely store and access their music, video, photos, contacts and other digital files.

Wang Jing, the vice-president of engineering at Baidu, said the offering "demonstrates Baidu's ability to launch a service that covers developers across the value chain, spanning chipset to software".

The partnership with Baidu marks Qualcomm's sharpened focus on serving the mainland, where a wide range of affordable Android-based devices are being manufactured.

Qualcomm, the world's biggest supplier of mobile chips, has more than 65 licensees on the mainland using various versions of its Snapdragon chip. Its customers include Lenovo, Huawei Technologies, ZTE, TCL, Techfaith Wireless Technology, Ningbo Bird and Hisense.