Even if most of Google services are blocked or restricted, Google has made augmented reality available in China.
Google's ARCore, its Android-based app for Augmented Reality (AR) experiences is now available in China via Xiaomi's "Mi Mix 2S" smartphones.
Users need to have Xiaomi's Mi Mix 2S to take advantage of the augmented reality features. According to Google, more ARCore partners are coming soon.
"Initially, the technology will be available for Xiaomi's Mix 2S devices via an app in the Xiaomi App Store, but Google has plans to add more partners in China over time, including Huawei and Samsung that have signed up to distribute ARCore apps on Chinese soil," TechCrunch reported on May 28.
This is not new for Google to be having this technique in setting foot in China, it can be recalled that Google also initially teamed up with Mobvoi in bringing the Android Wear to China. Google has also reportedly made deals with Chinese giant tech companies like Huawei and Xiaomi before to help them operate their own app stores on their devices.
Moreover, in the previous months, Google also partnered with Tencent in investing through different startups. Google also announced that an Artificial Intelligence (AI) laboratory will be built in Beijing as well as in Shenzhen, which is also known as the "Silicon Valley of hardware."
Starting today, #ARCore apps are available on Mix 2S devices from the Xiaomi App Store in China. More partners coming soon → https://t.co/16QoOTgqve pic.twitter.com/lT4TYXrzwF
— Google AR & VR (@GoogleARVR) May 28, 2018
