Baidu's acquisition of hao123.com has apparently become a focus of the 2004 China Internet Conference and Asia-Pacific Region Digital Technology Exposition.

Despite the fact that Baidu has kept the issue decidedly low-key, and refused to disclose any details, it is being reported that Baidu is now the official holder of domain name registration record for hao123. Most domain name researchers are taking this as proof that the acquisition has been settled, and that Baidu will dominate not only Chinese webpage searching, but also webpage browsing.

A reporter with Chinabyte has said he has learned source that Baidu will spend CNY50 million and a part of its share entity on the transaction.