Chinese search engine provider Baidu.com (BIDU) is likely to soon enter the instant messaging market.

According to 163.com, Baidu.com has posted job ads to recruit IM talents, but the company has not stated its detailed plan on what IM products will be launched or when it plans launch them.

Baidu.com is said to be recruiting in large scale for the position of IM product managers and development engineers, a sign of Baidu's preparation for IM services in China.

So far, IM service provider Tencent has not made any comment on Baidu's move.