Google is adding maps and word processing services to its Chinese site in its ongoing fight to grab a bigger share of the search engine market in China.

In the last quarter of 2006, Baidu had a 58% share of China's 476 million yuan ($61 million) search market, while Google trailed with a 17% share. Google wants a much bigger share of that fast growing market, but has had difficutly making inroads into the Chinese market.

The new service, known as Google DI Tu, Chinese for 'map," covers 146 cities in China. Google also offers word processing and spreadsheet programs in Chinese, just as they do in the United States, although the specific links apparently aren't yet available in Zunch's corner of the world..

Whether the average Chinese citizen will switch to Google remains to be seen. As evidenced by its marketshare, over half of all Chinese currently prefer Baidu. But don't count Google out.

As the Internet continues to shrink the world (so ot speak), expect the Chinese to become more trusting of Google. Especially if they happen to be a Chinese company wanting to do business with Western nations.

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