Will Google launch Android in China to battle Baidu?

Although Google (NASDAQ: GOOG)'s Android mobile phone software platform was officially announced months ago, the global wireless industry has been mum -- or doesn't know -- when Google's platform will be available for consumers. Which global wireless markets will be the first to even see a device powered by Google's Android platform?

Would it make sense for Google to release this platform in a market where consumers do most web surfing on a mobile device instead of a PC? Possibly -- although releasing Android in a market that has gadget-obsessed consumers may also be a decent choice. How about releasing the platform to a wireless carrier in a country where you're trying to take internet search engine market share away from a competitor?

Not only do hundreds of millions of Chinese wireless customers exist (more than the entire U.S. population), but many of them interact with the web on their mobile phones. Also, Google has made it known that it wants to become the largest search engine provider in the world's most populous country. That spot is now held by Baidu.com, which has managed to beat Google in China to this point. But Google -- ever the secretive tech giant of the world -- definitely has its sights set on leading the Chinese search engine market. How better than to release Android into that market and -- overnight -- up the ante in a huge way against Baidu.com's search engine dominance?