Google applies for licence in China: Report

Google Inc has applied for a licence to operate its Google Maps product in China, China Business News reported, quoting an unnamed official.

Google needs a licence from China's State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping to continue operating Google Maps in China. Recently, requirements for a mapping license were relaxed to allow for foreign online mapping providers, such as Google, to engage in joint ventures to provide the service.

Google has applied for the licence with Beijing Guxiang information Technology, the newspaper reported.

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A Google spokeswoman declined to comment and officials at the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping could not be immediately reached for comment.

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Google has had a testy relationship with Beijing after Google partially withdrew from China last year saying it was no longer willing to censor search results in the country and after a serious hacking incident.

Access to Gmail is spotty in China while YouTube is banned. The firm said earlier this month Chinese hackers tried to steal the passwords of hundreds of Google email account holders, including those of senior US government officials, Chinese activists and journalists.

- With Agency inputs