MOBIZ

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

The Best Sexiest Banner Ad ever

Thanks to my buddy Jan Van Den Bergh from i merge who has provided link to one of the best sexiest banner that i ever seen. Thanks Jan. Its a must see for everybody.

http://www.bannerblog.com.au/2006/11/sexy_shake_it.php - just click on the banner and shake it and see the model clothes coming off.
http://www.bannerblog.com.au/2006/05/picture_bra.php - just cut the strap and .....

High Fashion Brand Made in China

While they may still not yet be designed in China, luxury consumer goods are increasingly being made there. As Asia Times put it in a recent article:

“Don’t be surprised if you find the Prada, Armani or Burberry products you are wearing are made in China. Goods “Made in China” are no longer limited to cheap, low-end products. More and more brand-name luxury consumer goods are made in this “world’s workshop”, largely because of growing domestic demand as more and more Chinese can afford them.”

The trend is set to continue, and the World Luxury Association has estimated that 60 percent of the world’s luxury brands will manufacture in China by 2009.

Asia Times also notes an Ernst & Young report that says luxury goods sales in China in 2004 were US$2 billion, putting China in third place after Japan and the US and this figure is growing rapidly as more and more local Chinese are becoming affluent. With growth of 20 percent estimated to 2008, and 10 percent a year to 2015, sales could reach US$11.5 billion - and I assume this does not include what well-to-do Chinese buy when on overseas business and shopping trips (see more consumer wealth and spending information here and here).

There are certainly challenges for the luxury end of the market, and quality control is critical, but it is clear that China will see more and more high-end production coming its way. Lower cost does not have to mean lower quality.

What to expect for Mobile in 2007

Coming to a headline near you during 2007 - 3 billion mobile phone subscribers, 1 billion cameraphones in use, SMS data revenues reach 100 billion dollars, mobile data (non-SMS) revenues reach 40 billion dollars, and mobile music revenues top 10 billion dollars annually. A nice time to be in this industry. Isn't it time for YOU to get to understand the term "Mobile" better?

This space is just going to get more exciting and interesting and if you are not part of it, I suggest that you start to read and understand more about it. Its going to play a big part of your life than just simple voice call and sms. Enjoy it while we are moving into warp speed. Beam me up and give me more "WArP" speed scottie.

Google aims to fight back and gain market share in China

Google is giving its local managers more autonomy and investing more in China in an effort to make up for its late entry and take the lead in the industry, CEO Eric Schmidt said.

"We are catching up. Our investment is working and we will eventually be the leader," Schmidt also said.

Google has 22% of China's search market, well behind industry leader Baidu.com, which has 55%, according to market data company iResearch.

Schmidt said Google was gaining market share but he declined to give figures, only expressing confidence that its greater financial and technical resources would help close the gap.

Google came to China after other Internet services such as Yahoo, launching its China-based search site, Google.cn, in January 2006. Google opened a Beijing research center one year ago.
Schmidt said Google plans to give its China operation, led by Kai-Fu Lee, a former Microsoft VP, greater autonomy to develop new products and respond to the local market.

I m hopeful and confident that Google China will gain market share provided if they had acknowledged their previous problems and understood the market dynamics in China to move forward. With piles of cash and the success in most part of the world, Google is in great shape to gain further traction in China. All the best to the China's Google team.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

LG launches 'Google phone' in Italy

Korean electronics manufacturer LG launched its first Symbian S60 device, the KS10, in Italy on Monday. The device is the result of a global collaboration with web giant Google to pre-install Google services on millions of LG mobile phones but it is not the much awaited 'Google phone'.
The HSDPA-enabled smartphone is LG's first foray into S60 land and provides a full web browsing experience on its 2.4" wide screen, allowing uses to browse the 'proper' web rather than the mobile version.

The phone, previously known as the 'Joy', comes with Google services pre-installed, giving one click access to Google Search, Gmail, and Google Maps.

The KS10 is the first unit to be rolled out following Goole and LG's announcement in March. The handset firm expects to launch at least ten new handsets in 2007 with future version to feature pre-installed Blogger.

In the future, the partnership will extend beyond handsets and into the digital home, the companies said.

Meanwhile, Google has confirmed that it is working on a dedicated mobile project. Here comes Google extending its mobile muscles. Its going to be exciting mobile year ahead with iPhone launching mid year and Google Phone at the end of the year hopefully.

Why are we paying more for mobile content?

I had previously commented on a blog by Russell Buckley where he reported that the global market for paid content on mobile phones is already worth $20 billion, while the market for paid content on the web is worth only $4 billion. I don’t know the ultimate source, but the numbers probably aren’t far off. Does this mean that consumers are happy to pay for mobile content, or that the mobile market is somehow healthier than the market for content online?

Consumers don’t have any choice about paying for mobile content. Mobile providers exert so much control over our phones that we can’t get free content onto our phones even if the content provider wants to give it away. Free WAP content providers in China are mostly providing free content to its users but users still need to pay for the high GPRS data charges. Its really not free afterall.

The high price of mobile content is a direct result of closed platforms. If your ISP could prevent you from downloading music onto your PC for free they would probably do so. Your mobile operator can and does. People may be prepared to pay more for music on their phones, but we don’t know the fair market price. Your mobile operator just wont allow supply and demand to determine that price.

Beside not having any choice for paying for mobile content, the consumer dont have much content to choose from either. On the internet, the consumer have access to infinite supply of content and there are mostly free so why pay when you can get it for free. Unless those content are unique and exclusive, its always hard to get the consumer to pay on the internet. Internet users are used to the notion of free content on the internet as they expect all things to be free on the internet. Mobile content on the other hand has always been paid content and nobody expect anything for free.

The Low Cost Indoor Flight Simulator

This is probably the best flight simulation and experience that you can get from the comfort your home. With a full panoramic view and strapped into a so called cockpit with the controller in between your thighs, you are ready to rock and roll. Ha ha.