China Approves 18 Online Map Providers; Google and Baidu Not on the List

Posted 06/24/2010 at 2:09am | by Pulkit Chandna

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Eighteen online map providers have won the nod from China's State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM), and are now officially authorized to ply their trade in the world's most populous country (and internet market) – a new regulation requires that all surveying and mapping services obtain official sanction by the end of this year. According to the China Daily, all the mapping services on the list are domestically owned, even though foreign companies were among about 30 companies that have applied for a license.

"According to China's Surveying and Mapping Law, foreign firms are not allowed to provide surveying and mapping services. Their activities in China must be under joint ventures or in partnership with domestic firms," the SBSM said.

However, all is not lost for the foreign companies as the SSBM is still considering applications from those eligible to apply under Chinese law. A few weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal reported that Google has already applied for a license for its Google Maps service. But Google China did not return the China Daily's request for a comment.

Unlike its search operations, which it shifted to Hong Kong in March, Google's mapping service continues to be operated from mainland China. Even Baidu has yet to get the nod for its own mapping service.