China's answer to Google, Baidu, has released its first web browser for Android smartphone in an initiative to drive traffic to its mammoth search engine as well as cement its dominance as the top mobile brand in China.

Baidu is looking to infiltrate markets beyond outside the Far East, directly competing with European and North American mobile, search and hosting firms.

Baidu's director of international communications Kaiser Kuo told the BBC he was confident the browser, available in Chinese and English, was "head and shoulders above the others on the market".
"[It is] a very powerful mobile browser, equipped with a state-of-the-art engine that makes it possible to load pages quickly, stream high-definition video and play graphically demanding games," he said.
"We believe that users are very discerning, and they want the best available technologies. We're confident that it will attract many users."

The Baidu Mobile Browser will compete with UCWeb UC Browser, Google’s Chrome and default Android browser, and Apple's Safari. Baidu claims the browser is about 20 percent faster than its rivals, and also allows users to access to mobile apps and run high-definition video through the browser without having to download external apps or supporting software.