By Herman Lai, posted Mar 26, 2012 at 6:55 PM, 441 views,

Apple to Set Baidu Search as iOS Default Search Engine in China ?

Apart from the three popular Chinese email services integrated into iOS 5 last year, we have also heard a few rumors swirling that Apple’s iOS will have more Chinese app pre-installed. In May last year, the founder of Youku claimed they had met Steve Jobs for discussion of integrating Youku app to replace Youtube for iPhone. Last month, Apple is reportedly in preparation to bring support for the Chinese language to Siri next month as well. Today, Sina Tech reported Apple will introduce an update for iOS that integrates search functionality from Chinese giant Baidu into the operating system. The source also claimed an update could become available as early as next month.

Baidu is commanding nearly 85% of internet searches in China, whereas Google is currently lags behind Baidu in China by 60%. It’s a logical move which brings the best and most popular to the masses, and it’s clear that Apple would like to move away from its dependence on Google.

Baidu is making waves in the mobile industry as well, the Chinese search giant also launched its mobile operating system last year in September, which based heavily on Android. Baidu Mobile OS is already available on Dell Streak Pro D43, you may check out our hands-on review here.

So with the upcoming iOS update, here’s at least two features that we think it’s necessary to be seen next month — Sina Weibo and Baidu Maps. Since Google Maps is blocked in China, there’s no point for Google Maps to stay, which making Baidu Maps a likely alternative for Apple to integrate for its iOS. With Sina Weibo, it is China’s biggest social networking site, Apple should consider put it into the iOS as well. We might see all these changes on the New iPad that rumored to come to China next month.

Worth nothing, just a month ago, Apple also introduced Mac OS X Mountain Lion and added new features to coax the Chinese mac users, which included the Baidu, Sina Weibo, Youku, Tudou, QQ…

Source: Sina Tech via Remond Pie