Google plans to return to mainland China, report says

SAN FRANCISCO — Looking for a toehold in the world's largest smartphone market, Google hopes to return to mainland China as early as this fall in what would mark a major detente in the Internet giant's fraught dealings with the Chinese government.

The Internet giant is seeking approval for a China version of its Google Play app store, The Information reported, citing people familiar with the plan.

Google is also hoping to get support for Android wearable devices in China, the report said.

As part of the deal Google is looking to strike, Google would follow the country's laws and block apps that the government objects to, one person told The Information.

The Play store app will only work on devices running the "M" version of Android and on devices that comply with China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology requirements, the report said.

Google pulled out of mainland China and moved its Chinese-language search engine to Hong Kong in 2010 after a series of cyber attacks on Google originated in the country. Google also said it would stop censoring search results in China. The move was controversial, cutting Google off from the lucrative Chinese market especially on mobile.

Google is reportedly forming partnerships with local companies to tailor the app store to Chinese consumers.

Major Chinese technology companies such as Baidu and Tencent control most of the app distribution in mainland China. Xiaomi, dubbed the "Apple of China," has launched its own app store and phones.

Google spokesman Matt McLernon declined to comment.

Follow USA TODAY senior technology reporter Jessica Guynn on Twitter: @jguynn.