Internet REALLY going global

by Karen Coppock
______________

ICANN voted to allow non-Latin-script web addresses this week, in a nod to the 800 or so million Internet users who read and write in Arabic, Chinese and other non-Latin-script languages.

This could fundamentally change the nature of the Internet. The billions of people that use non-Latin-script languages will soon be able to access sites without having to know the Latin-script suffix (e.g., .com)...but they will still have to type in the prefix, http://

Many people have voiced in on the pros and cons of this new policy. Regardless if you consider this a good or bad move, it is definitely a move toward the increased globalization of the Internet and has distinct ramifications for multi-national firms which were accustomed to managing their brands and customer-relations on a more uniform platform.

Global versus Local: Search Engine Strategies for Emerging Markets

Google’s recent earnings report focused on their aggressive hiring in international locations. Eric Schmidt, Google CEO, explained that searching the Internet is now a global activity, and in order to compete with Yahoo!, Microsoft and, increasingly, local competitors like Baidu, Google’s staff has to become more international. Google has also developed a “cross-language informational retrieval” service, which translates foreign-language content for English-language searches (and vice-versa). According to one blog, translations will be available in English, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Google’s “world-is-flat” macro approach will appeal to more Internet-savvy users interested in international news and opinions.

Yahoo!’s approach to international markets is slightly different. The company offers a language-translation program similar to Google’s, but a more intriguing initiative is the attempt to attract local users in developing countries by turning their search engine into citywide portals. Yahoo!’s India-based pilot, Our City - an online clearinghouse for local, dynamic content - has been introduced in 40 Indian cities and appears to have gained a solid user base. Yahoo!’s more localized approach will meet the demands of new users who are just beginning to access the web and are most interested in locally-relevant information such as government services, news, entertainment and events. While a combination of approaches is likely the best strategy for emerging market business success, a focus on locally available services and content will motivate the next billion PC users to take the Internet for a test drive.

Yahoo!, Google, and other IT companies should have no trouble finding local content. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are eager for sales opportunities outside their brick-and-mortar confines, and governments in many emerging-market countries are investing heavily in e-government portals and support for the SMB sector. Smart local entrepreneurs with intimate knowledge of local content needs could act as aggregators, benefiting from the technology, resources and scale of a multinational technology partner. All stakeholders understand this would result in more emerging-market users online, creating potential consumers of other online content and services.

Also in the news:

• Internet Slow to Reach the Unconnected
• Everex, Acer, and Medison Introduce Low-cost PCs
• Technology and Power, How is Access Defining Progress

.

Steady Innovation Primes Yahoo! for Growth in India

May 2, 2007

Steady Innovation Primes Yahoo! for Growth in India

Yes, there was other news amid the OLPC/Intel hullabaloo this week. This week’s nugget comes from India, where Yahoo! has been steadily rolling out new products, services and strategies.

India’s Business Standard newspaper provided details about some of Yahoo!’s efforts – increased executive staffing, enabling Yahoo! Maps for Indian cities, and city-specific portals featuring localized, user-generated content. Portal users can find photos, videos, maps, podcasts, event information and blogs for 20 Indian cities.

Vital Wave Consulting likes Yahoo!’s relatively quiet approach to these strategic initiatives. Perhaps taking a page from the chronicle of success written by the telecommunications industry, Yahoo! is letting new products and services find traction before making big announcements about them.

The real opportunity for Yahoo! is the potential to radically scale the more successful services throughout India. There are currently 25 million Internet users in India, and usage is increasing most dramatically in urban centers. The number of Indian cities with million-plus populations grew from 23 to 35 between 1991 and 2001. By now, there are more than 40 Indian cities with a combined population of 500 million – all potential customers for Yahoo!’s new services.

Also in the news this week

• This is not your father’s philanthropy
• Financing for solar power in India
• OLPC price jumps to $175