Earlier this month, while US and Europe are gushing over Android and iOS, China was preparing to launch a smartphone run by Cloud OS. Today, the wait is over, as the very first cloud-based smartphone was launched.

Alibaba Cloud Computing (“AliCloud”), the developer of advanced data-centric cloud computing services and a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, has unveiled the Aliyun OS – an internally developed, cloud-based mobile device operating system.   The K-Touch Cloud-Smart Phone W700, the first mobile phone powered by the cloud OS, was also unveiled today, and will be introduced to the Chinese market at the end of July. AliCloud also plans to integrate the OS with other devices, including mobile phones with larger screens and tablet computers in the coming months.

“Introducing cloud apps to mobile devices not only brings a whole new user experience, but also greater ease for third-party mobile software developers who will be able to use Internet technology such as HTML5 and JavaScript to reduce the complexity in the app development process.”

“Mobile users want a more open and convenient mobile OS, one that allows them to truly enjoy all that the Internet has to offer right in the palm of their hand, and the cloud OS, with its use of cloud-based applications, will provide that,” said Wang Jian, president of Alibaba Cloud Computing. “Introducing cloud apps to mobile devices not only brings a whole new user experience, but also greater ease for third-party mobile software developers who will be able to use Internet technology such as HTML5 and JavaScript to reduce the complexity in the app development process.”

The Aliyun OS features e-mail, internet search and support for web-based apps. Apps need not be downloaded nor installed on devices.  To expand their mobile reach, the Alibaba Group is in talks with Qualcomm Inc. to develop lower-end chipset to run the Aliyun OS as its K-Touch Cloud-Smartphone currently uses high-end chipset from Nvidia Corp.

The company is also in the process of producing English versions of the phone and tablets, which they aim to release by the end of this year or early 20112.

The new release seems like it doesn’t really offer much, their only bragging right is that they are the first cloud-based smartphone.  But aside from that, there’s little else to talk about.  The mentioned features are already available in other devices so what does their cloud-based smartphone have that other devices are not equipped with?

Alibaba is certainly early in the game, and is seeking a first-mover advantage even if the AliCloud’s launch version has few other differentiating factors.  And Alibaba isn’t the only newcomer in the mobile OS department.  As Nokia busies itself with a renewed OS for Microsoft Windows phones, HP unveils webOS to an already satisfied market.  Mozilla is hoping to open things up even further for consumers, going after Android in more ways than one.  And speaking of Android, the Google OS is sure to have some points of integration with Chrome OS, a cloud-based system designed for netbooks.  Alibaba and the rest are certainly looking to give Google and Apple a run for their money.