Companies to Observe
Some Thoughts on Foreign Internet Companies in China
I read a fantastic article last week on the Advertising Age website entitled, “The Internet Does Not Rise Above Nations and Cultures.” The article, by @wolfgroupasia of the Silicon Hutong blog, takes a closer look at why foreign Internet companies in China fail. Wolf writes that through observing past examples (such as: eBay, Yahoo! & [...]
Keep an Eye on E-Commerce in China During The Year of the Tiger
In this recent post on The China Observer about where I see the most potential growth for businesses in China’s Internet space I wrote:
“Companies who wish to succeed in China’s Internet space would best stick to areas that focus on job creation and economic gain that do not overlap with broader social & societal challenges. [...]
Smart Cities - A $30 Billion Opportunity For Cisco, But Will Local Citizens Be Ready?
The following post is about two former colleagues – Asa from New York City and Lifen from Changsha, China. They have never met one another, but their lives are bizarrely linked together because of an emerging trend that’s being spearheaded by a US-based real estate development firm and technology giants like Cisco Systems.
About five years [...]
Beyond Google: How can foreign companies operate successfully in China’s Internet space?
When Google announced that they may exit the China market, it sent shock waves across both traditional media and new media. I’d like to highlight a few of the thoughtful posts that helped shape my perspective on this issue:
Clearing Up Confusion on Google and China
WSJ China Real Time Report
Why it’s Good that Google.cn Leaves + [...]
You Stole My Vegetables! Toucai – The Latest Addictive Game Application on China’s Social Networks
“你今天偷菜了吗？” “Have you stolen vegetables today?” From middle school students, to white collar workers, and even retirees – Chinese netizens of all ages are obsessed with 偷菜 toucai, the latest online gaming application sprouting up all across China’s social network sites (SNS). Players own a virtual farm where they plant fruits and vegetables. They purchase [...]
Huawei Technologies: The Exception, Not the Rule
My friend in New York sent me an email last week asking for information about a Beijing-based financial firm that just offered him a job at their newly established international headquarters in New York. It made me recall a China Tech News article I read earlier this month about Huawei Technologies signing a letter of [...]
Reverse Innovation: Made in China - For China
A few years back I remember hearing about Sara Bongiorni’s book entitled “A Year Without “Made in China”: One Family’s True Life Adventure in the Global Economy.” As the title implies, Bongiorni convinced her family to spend a year without purchasing any products with a “Made in China” stamp/label. But in reality it’s no longer [...]
Unicom Will Bring iPhone to China…Isn’t It Already There?
The big news last week was China Unicom’s announcement that it will officially launch the iPhone in China in Q4 2009. Is this really a big story?
First, let’s take a look at the deal highlights (from iPhonAsia blog):
3-year iPhone in China deal
Target iPhone launch date is sometime in Q4, 2009
China Unicom has pre-purchased a large [...]
Bad Taste, Great Results - TongRenTang Traditional Chinese Medicine
“Whatever you do, do not add more than a little bit of water,†my Chinese friend told me while we were out to lunch last week. She had just handed me a packet of a type of traditional Chinese medicine called 感冒清çƒé¢—ç²’ ganmao qingre keli. I had been feeling a little under the weather recently, [...]
When Will Mobile Internet In China Be Widespread? (Updated)
Last year I went off on a part business part pleasure trip to Japan. One of the highlights of my ten-day adventure was when I met up with Bill, an alumnus of my alma mater who has been working as a web designer in Osaka for almost twenty years. The laowai from Massachusetts met up [...]
