Chinese search engine Baidu Inc. has launched two services for mobile users, in an effort to gain an edge and market share in the world's largest mobile market, China Daily reported Thursday.

Baidu launched its client software that combines search and other functions it offers on the PC Internet. With this software, mobile users can access search services much faster than WAP browsers.

The company has also come out with a new mobile software input method, which was developed by Shanghai-based Day Hand Networks Co.Ltd., a mobile software company it had acquired earlier.

The company said it was going to continue its cooperation with telecom carriers and other players. Last month Baidu signed a partnership with China Unicom to provide wireless search for the carrier's 3G mobile subscribers.

Mobile Internet users in the country reached 192 million by the end of September this year, an increase of 62.7 percent year on year, and the number of computer-based Internet users grew to 360 million during the same period, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2009)