App developers given Google platform

Google Inc is making its most aggressive move on the Chinese mainland since a high-profile exit from the market nearly five years ago.

The Internet giant said on Thursday that it has started to allow app developers in China to sell their products through Google Play, an online app store installed in more than 1 billion Android smartphones worldwide.

Industry sources speculated that Google is preparing for a more significant move that would let Android phone users in China download apps from the store, which cannot be done at present in the world's biggest smartphone market.