My Internet Notebook

a journal on software, mobile, marketing

Archive for April, 2007

Microsoft opens up on Web strategy at Mix ’07

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Microsoft determined to take the lead from Google and Yahoo by pouring more development resources into its Windows Live service.

One of the key tenets of Microsoft’s Windows Live strategy is to engage web developers that are used to develop using Php & Javascript scripting languages. And Microsoft’s Windows Live API offers some very generous licensing terms to developers.

An application can have up to 1 million unique users per month without having to pay Microsoft. Beyond that, Microsoft will charge 25 cents per user per year.

Source: Microsoft opens up on Web strategy at Mix ’07 | CNET News.com

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Written by Y.

April 30th, 2007 at 5:00 pm

Posted in Internet

Salesforce.com Release Chinese SaaS and Special Pricing

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To capitalize a growing industry (i.e software as service) in Asia in general and China in particular, Salesforce.com is putting more efforts into its China venture, announcing a 10 user subscription plan costing $115 each per year.

Although Saleforece.com had an office in China region since 2003, I have not heard much about SFDC from my friends in China’s IT industry. What I heard many times though, is that selling service in China is very hard. At this stage of IT development in China, purchasing of hardware and OS/RDBMS still rules. But I certainly hope that SFDC can crack the market and introduce a new mentality in the IT purchasing circle. Good for everyone.

Salesforce.com has announced a Chinese edition of its on-demand customer relationship management (CRM) software targeted at small companies in China.

Source: Salesforce.com speaks Chinese – Software – News – ZDNet Asia

Written by Y.

April 25th, 2007 at 4:26 pm

Posted in China,Software

KPCB Opens China Fund With $360 million

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The famous Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers has entered the Chinese market with a $360 million fund.

Venture capital investments in China grew to $1.8 billion in 2006 from $1.2 billion in 2005, according to data from Hong Kong-based venture market research firm Zero2IPO.

KPCB will have offices in both Beijing and Shanghai, centers of high-tech venture investment and tech innovations. Some might wonder whether KPCB is late to the game given that some VCs in China are openly concerned about over-valuation of Chinese web2.0 companies.

Source: Kleiner Perkins entering China with $360 mln fund | Reuters.com

Written by Y.

April 24th, 2007 at 5:52 pm

Posted in Internet

你是否会到外资银行开户?

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 To fullfill its commitment to WTO, China has officially granted foreign banks license to offer retail business to Chinese consumers in local currency. However, it will take some time before an average Chinese consumer can benefit from the perceived higher quality of services at the multinational banks operating in China, such as Citibank, HSBC etc. ’cause they charge you a hefty monthly if you don’t have enough deposit in your account.  

从4月23日开始,汇丰银行、花旗银行、渣打银行和东亚银行北京分行正式向本地居民开办人民币业务。虽然对开户的个人客户没有起存金额的要求,但账户余额如果低于一定金额,外资银行将收取不菲的账户管理费,

Source: [调查]你是否会到外资银行开户?

Written by Y.

April 24th, 2007 at 5:33 pm

Posted in China

U.S., China eye liberalizing air travel – Yahoo! News

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The United States is discussing a deal with China to liberalize air travel and hopes for a framework “open skies” agreement by May, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said Friday.

I can’t imagine that there are only 11 daily nonstop flights between China and US, where the bilateral trade between these two countries reaches hundreds of billions. I certainly hope that this open sky agreement does get signed soon, so that air travel to Shanghai won’t be as crowded. Moreover, more competition would mean better service on flights. My last experience with United Airlines to China is, well, not desirable, to put it mildly.

Despite strong demand, there are an average of only 11 daily nonstop flights between China and the United States, Peters said. By comparison, she said, there are 55 daily flights between the United States and Germany, with which Washington has an “open skies” deal.

Source: U.S., China eye liberalizing air travel – Yahoo! News

Written by Y.

April 14th, 2007 at 1:38 pm

Posted in China