Baidu Conference 2012: Cloud, Big Data, and Mobile in China
Cloud computing and big data intelligence were key themes at the Baidu Tech Conference this year as the search giant looks to dominate China's nascent mobile Internet market.
Cloud computing and big data intelligence were key themes at the Baidu Tech Conference this year as the search giant looks to dominate China's nascent mobile Internet market.
Beijing – Baidu unveiled its own mobile Internet browser including seven cloud related tools aimed at app developers during its annual World Conference held at the China World Hotel on Monday.
Additionally, the company revealed it would invest in a cloud computing center that would cost about 10 billion yuan (US$1.6billion).
Baidu CEO Robin Li said in his speech that mobile Internet has grown rapidly in 2011. Internal stats showed the number of users searching on mobile apps has grown more than 10 times in a year, he stated.
Cloud computing and big data intelligence were key themes at the Baidu Tech Conference this year as the Internet company looks to dominate China’s nascent mobile Internet market.
Baidu’s mobile and cloud computing manager Li Mingyuan took to the stage to introduce seven key features targeting small and medium sized app developers, which would allow them to reduce cost and scale quickly.
The seven features include: Personal Cloud Storage (PCS), Site App, Baidu App Engine (BAE), Mobile Test Center (MTC), LBS Cloud, Screen X, and Engine.
Baidu has already secured several big players to tap its cloud computing capabilities.
For example, Philips revealed at the conference it would roll out one million Smart TVs integrated with Baidu cloud storage early next year.
RenRen, China’s social networking site, has also leveraged Baidu’s PCS capability to provide its members the ability to store data on the cloud to share with friends from photo apps to business cards.
There were a number of breakout sessions in the afternoon at the conference on cloud developers, search technology, investment, marketing and sales.
Procter & Gamble’s marketing director, Chen Wan Feng from the digital media and innovation department shared how it cooperated with Baidu to use big data intelligence to drive sales for the company.
With the rise of user-generated content and community forums, the FMCG giant works closely with Baidu to influence the consumer purchase journey.
Focusing on the 5 Cs from connections, conversations, co-creation, commerce to community, P&G listens to consumer interests using Baidu search to generate awareness and recall, which then drives trial and engages consumers through CRM by tapping Baidu’s retargeting capability.
Big data intelligence now plays a critical role in P&G’s marketing strategy. Compared with traditional data, Chen said big data is multi-dimensional and allows the company to track real time behavior based on highly integrated user-generated demographics.
Baidu CEO Robin Li spoke to an audience of close to 2,000 developers and investors on the company’s cloud strategy at the tech conference in Beijing.
Li Mingyuan, mobile and cloud computing manager at Baidu, unveiled the company’s own mobile Internet browser, which is available on Android 2.2 and Windows phone.
Baidu also introduced its next generation map that features GPS positioning and real time traffic conditions capability, in-building location positioning, and LBS lifestyle services to receive promotional and group-buying offers.
Booths introducing the various Baidu Cloud tools were located outside the conference hall for participants to acquaint themselves with each feature in detail.