Google China (GOOG) has formally initiated the Google Search Appliance University Donation and Cooperation Program in Beijing.
Six Chinese universities, including Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Tongji University, University of Science and Technology of China, Zhejiang University and East China Normal University, have received Google China's donation of the special search equipment which is directly introduced from the U.S. and is intended to help them integrate their resources and increase their resource utility.
According to local media reports, Dr. Kaifu Lee, president of Google China, says there is no commercial purpose for Google in donating the appliance to the Chinese universities. He adds that Google makes the donation just to help the schools integrate their resources and increase utility.
Adopting Google's search software technology, GSA reportedly can be used to search web pages, files, BBS threads and databases. GSA is still not available in the Chinese market for other entities, and Lee does not disclose when it will be launched in China and how much it will cost.