Chinese search engine Baidu is promoting its Baidu cloud service by offering 30GB of free online storage to owners of Android-based devices powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors.

For a limited period of time, Baidu will be offering to end users who elect to use the Baidu cloud service on Android-based devices powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors: (i) 15GB of storage space utilizing the Baidu cloud service, at no charge, for a period of one (1) year following such end user's activation of the Baidu cloud service on his/her device, and (ii) an additional 15GB of storage space utilizing the Baidu cloud service, at no charge, for the lifetime of such device following such end user's activation of the Baidu cloud service on his/her device.

Baidu also announced that it will be optimizing its cloud service to work with Android devices that are based on certain Qualcomm Reference Designs (QRD) offered by QTI. Baidu cloud service will initially be optimized by Baidu to work with Android devices based on QRDs that use either a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM 8x25 processor or a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8x25Q processor, both products of QTI. Baidu cloud service for these devices is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of this year.

Baidu Cloud is structured on Personal Cloud Storage and is offered to smartphone manufacturers and chipset providers as a complete solution including functions such as cloud data management and multiple devices synchronization. In terms of security, the Baidu cloud features https encrypted transmissions, storage of files by block, encrypted storage of bottom layer meta information, Oauth 2.0 authentication, multiple duplicated file storage, and a security monitoring system. In terms of service stability, Baidu's cloud service now has reached the SLA level 1 range, and has a target availability rate of up to 99.99 percent.

Baidu has already a foothold among China's smartphone users by pre-installing its Baidu search on Android phones and Apple devices sold in the country. The company has also partnered with companies including Dell to launch three handsets in the country installed with its "Baidu Cloud" platform, which features Baidu apps such as its map services, online browser, music and others.