Chinese technology giants’ global strategy discussed at GMIC (2)

English>>

Editor's Pick

Chinese technology giants’ global strategy discussed at GMIC (2)

(People's Daily Online) 14:06, October 27, 2013

Email|Print|Comments

twitter

facebook

Sina Microblog

Xiaomi-- Enter the US only after full preparations

"Definitely the US is a market we're extremely excited about. But we will not enter it until we are really get ready." Lei Jun, CEO of Chinese smart phone maker Xiaomi answered at the GMIC.

Lei Jun and Hugo Barra introduced Xiaomi's devices and business model to AllThingsD's Kara Swisher and audience. They also disclosed bits of information regarding the company's plans for its anticipated international expansion.

Lei said that after a test in Taiwan this year, xiaomi is proved to be very popular. Xiaomi is believed to have good prospect in the international market. According to the two characteristics of the Xiaomi model, the company will seek the market with advanced e-commerce infrastructure and active social media combined.

Lei Jun also confirmed that the company had no plans to deviate from Android and develop its own standalone operating system.

UC Web----building more open ecosystem

With more than 400 million users of its UC Browser, China's UC Web is probably one of most popular mobile browser makers in the world.According to the statics from the StatCounter, UC Web's market share in the Chinese market has reached over 50 percent while more than 30 percent in the Indian market, which makes it the No. 1 mobile browser in India.

Yu Yongfu, CEO of the UC Web said the internet was born with one important principle, that is "connecting and intercommunication". The internet industry is like an ocean ecosystem. Every entrepreneur can find his own space in this system. But for the mobile internet, there are many invisible barriers which are set up by those "Super Apps". He said UC Web will do its endeavor to build up a more open ecosystem for the mobile market.

Now UC has invested more than 20 mobile startups and it will help more entrepreneurs, especially those in the United States to start their own mobile business.

As the mobile trends involve the whole world, Chinese mobile companies are grasping the opportunities with their own innovation and model rather than following the Silicon Valley steps.

"We have spent close to $20 billion of investment outside China," said Martin Lau, president of Tencent, China's biggest internet company with a market value of more than $100 billion.

Lau said Tencent's future international strategy has two parts — investing in the right companies abroad and promoting its own product abroad.

"We go out and search for teams and entrepreneurs, companies we like and we provide capital, service and experiences. In some cases, we provide them with access to the China market,"Lau said. "We try to add value to those entrepreneurial companies. We try to empower them and benefit from their growth."

Lau explained the thinking behind Tencent's launching of the sister products WeChat and Wexin. "The two have different services but are interconnected, so people on the two networks can actually talk to each other," he said.

The target countries for WeChat now include Europe, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, he said. "The US is a tough market, but we do have an office here, we do have a team, and we try to think about what we can do differently here," he added.