Lin Shiding, chief architect of Chinese internet company Baidu's (Nasdaq: BIDU) cloud services division recently revealed that Baidu is in the process of integrating its existing APIs, such as those for Baidu Maps and search, with upcoming APIs for Baidu Knows, Baidu Post Bar, Baidupedia and other services into a single platform as part of a Baidu cloud-based OS to begin open beta testing by the end of the year.

Li Mingyuan, GM of Baidu's mobile cloud division, said that Baidu's Aladdin search, PC, and mobile open platforms have been merged into the mobile cloud division, so that developers can communicate with one department and do not have to discuss cooperation involving each platform with a separate development team.

Baidu's open platform paid out approximately RMB 100 mln in revenue sharing to developers in 2011, according to VP of technology Wang Jin, adding that Baidu will increase incentives for third-party app developers three-fold compared to last year in 2012.