Baidu Unleashes Changhong H5018 Smartphone in China

As expected, giant search engine Baidu unveiled the Changhong H5018 smartphone powered by its own Cloud Smart Terminal platform. 

According to the company, the device has been manufactured by Foxconn and will be available for purchase via China Unicom. Obviously, it won’t be available outside China and it will sell for less than 1,000 RMB (160 USD or 125 EUR) through dedicated channels across the country. Although Baidu wasn’t very specific on the availability of the phone, the company did mention the Changhong H5-18 was expected to hit shelves “in the very near future.”

The phone’s main selling point will be Baidu’s Cloud Smart Terminal platform, which packs the core technologies of Baidu Cloud Computing, such as Cloud-based applications, Personal Cloud Storage service, and multi-terminal, multi-application software platform capabilities. In addition, the mobile platform offers users various features and services, including intelligent search, secure and reliable Cloud services, as well as specialized Baidu apps and personalized location-based services. 

Integrated traditional search with voice recognition search and handwriting input will be available as well. Baidu promised every customer who purchases the Changhong H5018 will receive 100 GB of free personal storage through Baidu Netdrive. The phone will also come preloaded with Baidu apps, such as Baidu Music, Baidu Map, and Baidu Mobile IME (input method editor). 

In terms of hardware, the Changhong H5018 sports a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display, a 3-megapixel rear camera, a 1400 mAh Li-Ion battery, as well as 3G connectivity.  “The Baidu Cloud Smart terminal platform is a crucial step in Baidu’s overall Cloud strategy in the mobile Internet sphere. It is not only meant to create a high quality, smart mobile experience for users, but also, more importantly, it will significantly lower manufacturing costs for many mobile manufacturers and cooperating partners,” said Baidu VP of engineering, Jing WANG.

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