Debate: Android's Success in China Rests on Gaming, Tablets

This is a part of our TechCrunch Disrupt 2011 event coverage.

This might sound a bit ‘Tao’ but Android is currently having a superb-terrible time in China, with stellar growth on smartphones sometimes overshadowed by Google’s woes in China. Here at TechCrunch Disrupt Beijing today, TC’s Greg Kumparak sat down with three key figures to discuss if Android is doomed or destined for greatness in China. Representing Google, there’s John Lagerling, plus DCM’s David Chao, and Innovation Works’ Wang Hua.

Attracting Developers and Users

Android is sometimes accused of being a complicated and fragmented platform. Is that true? Will that put off developers? That’s what the panel tackled first. Google’s John, of course, says that the diversity is a strength, calling it “creative chaos” in the nicest possible way. “We made Android open source” for a reason […] We say to people, don’t mess with the APIs, and most OEMs realise this and keep the APIs in place. So that’s good for developers,” says John.

The Google man points to his company’s delicate balance of localizing Android whilst also keeping it global and open:

We need to take the pulse of the local market […] and Chinese devs are becoming very literate in Android.

DCM’s David, who manages the VC firm’s Android fund, is bullish on the mobile OS’ future as well. He says:

I used to work for Apple, and understand the working of Apple […] I think Android is like MS-DOS compared to Mac, and it’s all about numbers – it’s all about eyeballs.

Plus, David is sure that Android will empower China‘s speedy hardware builders:

Android can release a lot of China’s fundamental strength in manufacturing.

No Love for Android Market in China

Turning to Innovation Works‘ Wang Hua, he provides a neat summary of Google’s woes in China, whereby so many products are not available here, either by being blocked – Picasa, Docs, YouTube, and several others – or by political troubles preventing a roll-out. And that’s situation with the Android Market, the official app store for the platform. Few people use it in China, preferring one or several local alternative app stores. But Mr Wang doesn’t see it as a problem: