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Google Play Store might return to China

Google Play Store might come back to China
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Insiders familiar with the matter reveal that NetEase, a Chinese company, is on its way to team up with Google. The purpose of this partnership would be to bring back the digital media store operated by the search giant to China.

China is a huge market for smartphones, but mobile services and apps are also very popular. Sadly, the Google Play Store is not present in the country at this time. However, this might change soon thanks to the Chinese technology company known as NetEase.

According to The Information, "NetEase has approached Google to form a joint venture to launch the store, called Google Play, in China, according to two people familiar with the discussions." For now, Google still has to confirm its return to China as the sources mentioned above also revealed that an agreement between the two parties had not been reached yet.

Google left the Chinese market back in 2010, after refusing to censor its search results and redirecting Chinese users to Google Hong Kong. Soon after that, the Chinese government restricted access to Google's HK website. In the meantime, Google's popular Play Store did not become available in China. 

Even if NetEase and Google reach an agreement, the Chinese government has to allow it as well. Remains to see what happens.

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Codrut Nistor, 2017-02- 7 (Update: 2017-02- 7)