Google plans to re-launch its Chinese-language search service as a self-censored version of its international search engine under a new domain name at Google.cn.

However it plans to block its free email service, Gmail.com, from access by Chinese users. It is not immediately clear if this means current Chinese and foreigners living in China who utilize Gmail will have their accounts cancelled or if only future registrations will be blocked.

Google also says it will also not allow its blogging tools or chatrooms to be accessed in China.

Google has already self-censored much of its content in China. For about 2 years, the company has mostly blocked access to its cached database of webpages.

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