Beta Version of Chinese MSN Search Available

From ShanghaiDaily:

"MSN'S Chinese Website will soon launch its own search engine, a Beijing-based newspaper reported today. The Beta version of the Chinese MSN search will be available at http://beta.search.msn.com.cn/.

The launch of the new search engine will be decided by feedback from the test run, Luo Chuan, director of Microsoft MSN's China business, told Beijing Business Today.

Currently Yahoo! is the search function provider of msn.com.cn. The future MSN search will collect money from the bid-for-placement on search queries. "We won't charge common users for using the service," Luo said."

China Net Investor: The word "competition" gets a new definition.

List of main competitors in China's search market:

Baidu.com - China's leading search engine
Google.com - The world's leading search engine
MSN.com - Bill Gates' empire
Sina.com (iAsk.com) - China's leading portal
Sohu.com (sogou.com) - China's #2 portal
Zhongsou.com - Fidelity, IDG and Legend Capital-backed company.
Alibaba/Yahoo! - China's Dotcom Guru Jack Ma together with web giant Yahoo!

Related:
Tencent Joins China's Search Engine Club
China's Sina Corp Officially Launches New Search Engine iAsk
Chinese Portal Sohu Launches Upgraded Search Engine
China's Search Leader Baidu Intends to Stay Independent
Google Strengthenes China Subsidiary Management
Alibaba.com Re-Launches Yahoo! China As Search Brand
Yahoo! China Has 8 Months to Top Baidu or It's "Game Over"

China Internet Network Information Center: China Online Search Market Survey Report (PDF file)