Chinese video website Youku.com has launched an independent video search website Soku.com, which allows users to search for videos on Youku.com as well as those on other websites.

According to previous reports in local media, Youku.com bought the domain name of Soku.com in early March this year, and opened the video search service recently. An insider from the company told local media that this search platform is completely developed by Youku.com and is currently undergoing beta tests.

Though Youku.com did not implement large-scale promotion for this new website yet or give much official comment on it, industry watchers said the launch of this new video search website aims to aid Youku.com’s competition with Baidu.com’s newly launched video subsidiary Qiyi.com.

In late March 2010, the Chinese search engine company Baidu Inc announced the start of beta test of its independently operated video website Qiyi.com, aiming at providing free-of-charge and quality video services to Chinese users as well as a quality and cost-effective online marketing platform to advertisers.