China to continue with Google, Microsoft Mapping Services

China's State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping said that it will not shut down the online mapping services of Google and Microsoft. This is the first time that the regulator has denied that it would close the online mapping services of these two companies. The statement also addresses concerns that Google might have to shut down its service in China due to a drop in its market share.

An official of the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping said, "We will not investigate or shut down the websites that have submitted their applications and are under examination. It had received applications to provide services from the offices of Google and Microsoft in China. It is noteworthy that companies have to obtain a licence from the bureau to provide online mapping services in China."

The bureau had earlier claimed that it would shut down unqualified websites and those that have failed to apply for a licence from 1 July 2011. Previous regulations stipulated that in order to provide online mapping services, a foreign company had to form a joint venture with a Chinese counterpart, with the domestic company owning a controlling stake. However, it was decided in June that the Chinese enterprise would not have to control the company.