China to Google: No Worries, We Were Planning to Clone Those Android Phones Anyway
Google’s newfound morality in China may cost it dearly, and not just in the search market but in the mobile services sector as well. This morning, the company said it is delaying the release of two Android superphones that were to debut this week on China Unicom (CHU). And it canceled a ceremony tomorrow at which it was to launch a brace of Android-based devices–one from Motorola (MOT) and one from Samsung.
“The launch we have been working on with China Unicom has been postponed,” a Google spokesperson explained.
The company offered no reason for the postponement, though it is obviously related to new uncertainties around its presence in China. Sources close to Google (GOOG) say the company simply felt it would be “irresponsible” to launch the phones in China at this time.
Google says it plans to hold meetings with Chinese authorities in “coming days,” though they’re not likely to be easy-going given recent messages from Beijing. This morning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman again stressed that foreign companies doing business in China must respect Chinese laws and regulations, adding, “Google is of course no exception.”