Marketing Pilgrim

China’s second largest fixed-line (“telephone”) operator, China Networks Communications Corp., has signed an agreement with Google for broadband users’ Internet search services. Google will provide a search bar on CNC’s broadband start page, CNCMAX.cn. CNC serves 16 million broadband customers through its subsidiary, China Netcom Broadband Corp.

The announcement come after Baidu’s 2006 gains, reported in February, and Google’s deal with China Mobile in January. Last September, China’s largest fixed-line operator, China Telecom, inked a deal with Microsoft. CT serves 25 million customers.

News coverage didn’t indicate whether Google.com or Google.cn would be used for search results.