Red Inkstone

Tech Layoff Death Spiral

2008-10-21T01:34:00.000-07:00

Can you say "sample size"? What's your p-value? It's completely rrrahndom. Granted, inside info about industry layoffs can be challenge to come by. A global tech layoff survey including Europe and the BRICs would give greater insight re: which firms have the sniffles and which firms have the full-blown flu.

More interesting is what I'm hearing from industry insiders (at least in the greater Bay Area) about headcount freezes, not just layoffs. What are recruiters saying? I'm less worried about a short-to-mid-term economic anemia because of the global downturn than I am about long-term investment (internally and externally) to maintain and develop a firm's competitive advantage...

New Music Search Service in China

2008-10-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

With this new venture by Google in the Chinese ad-supported "music" download space (wishful thinking, perhaps, or just plain farce), I wonder which music labels have signed on? And the specifics of the deal between Google and China's www.top100.cn .

I think it's quite clear why consumers have chosen Baidu over Google in China all these years in the market share race: free downloads! That edge has eroded as intellectual property protection strategies have improved, be it leveraging new channels, multilateral gov't negotiations, industry pressure, etc.

What can Baidu and Chinese consumer trends teach us about the nature of innovation? And about finding that so-called Blue Ocean Strategy, albeit one that refuses to fit the "framework" of U.S./European business models? We talk about disruptive technologies. Globalization is disruptive in and of itself. It's wicked. I love it. I respect it. And it's always interesting.

Youku / Myspace

2008-10-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

Would love to know how partnerships are forming behind the scenes re: China on the Facebook vs. MySpace front. I would settle for Baidu lunchbreak strategy notes...

#1 in broadband subscriptions: CHINA

2008-10-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

The fact that China broadband subscriptions now outnumber those in the U.S. is very significant, more so than "which country has the most web surfers." The purchasing power is rising in China and more consumers are paying for subscription services. Mobile was truly first on the scene, now broadband. I think you know where the market's going.

Tencent's Xiaoyou

2008-10-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

I came across QQ for the first time in 2001. I was a new transplant to Beijing at the time, and even then, QQ rivaled (likely surpassed) ICQ in popularity. Registering for QQ via mobile phone was pretty commonplace in 2001. Curious to see the latest 411 on Tencent (granted, the link I've provided is already considered old news)...