If you can read Chinese, visit this page (use this "阿里云搜索搅局市场 否认抢百度饭碗" to search for page as the message board doesn't allow URL link).
- Ali Search is not new in the market, it has been around since early 2012 or even earlier in 2011, it is based on China Yahoo's search engine, which has never been a big player in China.
- Alibaba's insider reiterated they will stay focus in eCommece, having a search tool box is more for a standard status symbol for a big company than going into core competition with market leaders.
Both Yahoo and Microsoft has excellent channels (like QIHU does), but why Google search still beat them hard? I used to use Yahoo long time before because I used Yahoo mail (my home page in browser was set to Yahoo). Till now, I am still using Yahoo mail and Yahoo Finance (over Google mail and finance), yet whenever I do search, I'll switch to Google even the Yahoo search box is right there. I bet many has the same experience, what do you think GOOG search is the lead then?
BIDU vs. QIHU or ALI Search would be similar to GOOG vs. Yahoo and BING.