By Zhu Shenshen | 2010-12-29 | NEWSPAPER EDITION
It will probably adversely affect industries like personal computers and telecommunication carriers. People will tap into the Internet and a world of applications for entertainment and business, but the main Internet access device will no longer be the PC. Mobile carriers are also losing their grip because online stores are directly accessed by consumers now.
Given that the trend isn't likely to change in near future, an alternative for carriers and device makers is to establish their own stores or to develop their own applications. Micro-blogging
Though Twitter is not available in the Chinese mainland, a similar service called Micro-blog is catching on like wildfire. The service, which allows users to upload a posting of 140 words, has attracted celebrities, including property tycoons, film stars and media publishers. By the end of this year, China's micro-blog user base is expected to hit 65 million and it will surpass 100 million at the middle of next year, which means one of every four or five Chinese netizens will be using the services, according to Sina.
Even Nokia, the world's No. 1 phone maker, held a micro-blog press conference to kick off its latest smart phone. Hundreds of journalists and chosen netizens logged onto Micro-blog to discuss the product and ask questions.
Other giants, like Tencent and Sohu, also announced recently that they plan to invest heavily in this new trend, inviting celebrities to open micro-blog accounts in an effort to catch up with market leader Sina.
Why and so what?
Micro-blogging is another channel for people to find out what's going on outside the official media. To some extent, it's a legal way for people to talk about social problems and express opinions. Through its popularity and wide coverage, micro-blogging sometimes can even change government policies or expose instances of unfair play.
Because most people access micro-blog sites through their mobile phones, it's also a catalyst to the booming mobile Internet market and a boon for handset makers and telecommunications carriers.
The popularity of micro-blogging is one successful example in the social networking sector, which is expected to take off next year, including micro-blogs, group purchase sites (tuan gou) and location-based services (LBS). Government-supported technology projects
In September, China announced its intention to promote seven new strategic industries, including alternative energy, biotechnology, new-generation information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, advanced materials, green cars and environmental protection.
In the IT sector, cloud computing, Internet of Things and next-generation networks are seen as the beneficiaries of this policy.
Premier Wen Jiabao visited Wuxi's Internet of Things park and gave a speech there touting the development of the technology, which refers to a connected system encompassing sensors, chips and networks to revolutionize homes and businesses.
On cloud computing, or Internet-shared computing, Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Wuxi have been chosen to test and develop it. In Shanghai, the government and investment firms will pump in 200 million yuan (US$29.85 million) in research and development in the next five years.
Last but not least, three-network convergence among Internet, broadcasting and mobile networks has already started nationwide.
Why and so what?
This is the first time that China has put IT on a national strategy level. For a long period, China's electronics exports, which accounted for about a third of shipments overseas, weren't value-added products. That meant the whole industry was vulnerable to international crises or the continued yuan appreciation. The new strategy is aimed at lifting national technology production to international standards and also meeting the demands of the domestic market in such areas as development of smart grids and intelligent urban-management systems.
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It will probably adversely affect industries like personal computers and telecommunication carriers. People will tap into the Internet and a world of applications for entertainment and business, but the main Internet access device will no longer be the PC. Mobile carriers are also losing their grip because online stores are directly accessed by consumers now.
Given that the trend isn't likely to change in near future, an alternative for carriers and device makers is to establish their own stores or to develop their own applications. Micro-blogging
Though Twitter is not available in the Chinese mainland, a similar service called Micro-blog is catching on like wildfire. The service, which allows users to upload a posting of 140 words, has attracted celebrities, including property tycoons, film stars and media publishers. By the end of this year, China's micro-blog user base is expected to hit 65 million and it will surpass 100 million at the middle of next year, which means one of every four or five Chinese netizens will be using the services, according to Sina.
Even Nokia, the world's No. 1 phone maker, held a micro-blog press conference to kick off its latest smart phone. Hundreds of journalists and chosen netizens logged onto Micro-blog to discuss the product and ask questions.
Other giants, like Tencent and Sohu, also announced recently that they plan to invest heavily in this new trend, inviting celebrities to open micro-blog accounts in an effort to catch up with market leader Sina.
Why and so what?
Micro-blogging is another channel for people to find out what's going on outside the official media. To some extent, it's a legal way for people to talk about social problems and express opinions. Through its popularity and wide coverage, micro-blogging sometimes can even change government policies or expose instances of unfair play.
Because most people access micro-blog sites through their mobile phones, it's also a catalyst to the booming mobile Internet market and a boon for handset makers and telecommunications carriers.
The popularity of micro-blogging is one successful example in the social networking sector, which is expected to take off next year, including micro-blogs, group purchase sites (tuan gou) and location-based services (LBS). Government-supported technology projects
In September, China announced its intention to promote seven new strategic industries, including alternative energy, biotechnology, new-generation information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, advanced materials, green cars and environmental protection.
In the IT sector, cloud computing, Internet of Things and next-generation networks are seen as the beneficiaries of this policy.
Premier Wen Jiabao visited Wuxi's Internet of Things park and gave a speech there touting the development of the technology, which refers to a connected system encompassing sensors, chips and networks to revolutionize homes and businesses.
On cloud computing, or Internet-shared computing, Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Wuxi have been chosen to test and develop it. In Shanghai, the government and investment firms will pump in 200 million yuan (US$29.85 million) in research and development in the next five years.
Last but not least, three-network convergence among Internet, broadcasting and mobile networks has already started nationwide.
Why and so what?
This is the first time that China has put IT on a national strategy level. For a long period, China's electronics exports, which accounted for about a third of shipments overseas, weren't value-added products. That meant the whole industry was vulnerable to international crises or the continued yuan appreciation. The new strategy is aimed at lifting national technology production to international standards and also meeting the demands of the domestic market in such areas as development of smart grids and intelligent urban-management systems.
1 2 3 4
