Google's 'sister site' surfaces in China

Posted by Erina Lin on January 27, 2010 at 3:33 PM

A Google knock-off site, Goojje, has surfaced in China, two days after the Internet search giant announced it will exit from the country, according to a Reuters article posted by PC Mag.

The name of Goojje is a play on words in Chinese. The final syllable "jje" sounds like "older sister," while the "gle" syllable of "Google" sounds like "older brother."

The new site has been online since January 14, vying with Google while also pleading for its stay in the country, according to the Henan Business Daily.

"Sister was very happy when brother gave up the thought of leaving and stayed for sister," the Web site says, asking Google to keep services in China.

Goojje is a search engine and provides social networking services. Its home page layout is similar to Google, while its logo looks like a combination of its "older brother's" and the no. 1 search engine in the country, Baidu Inc.

The site was founded by a 20-year-old female student in Guandong Province, in southern China, Reuters reported. "We established the site just for fun. We have no plan yet to make it for-profit," said its Web host, according to Sina News.

Google has no comment yet about the Goojje site.