Chinese Regime Troubles Apple
The smartphone marker is not being allowed to sell its iPhone 6 and 6 plus in Beijing
Officials of Apple are proud of their strong understanding of the Chinese market, so they might be not surprised by an order given by a municipal injunction in May 2016 banning the sale of its iPhone 6 plus as well as 6 in the Chinese capital city of Beijing. The order, which was publicized recently and is dependent on an accused patent breach involving the external design of smartphones, has been deferred pending an appeal. But nevertheless the final ruling goes, the episode is another indication that the US consumer electronics maker is in the crosshairs of the regime.
The legal case against the Cupertino based organization was filed by an obscure organization known Shenzhen Bailil, which does not even have its website but seems to be another name for Digione, which is a newly emerging smartphone company. On 17th June 2016, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Chinese search engine developer Baidu is the biggest investor in Digione, and that founder of Baidu Robin Lin is a delegate with Community Party of China’s political advisory committee, suggested that both political and business interests are after Apple.
The problems of the tech organization with Shenzhen Bailli started in 2015, when it was unable to cancel a patent Chinese regulatory bodies issued for its 100C smartphone’s exterior design, which resembles to a certain extent to the iPhone 6. The judgment is in accordance to the Chinese trademark and patent rules that disadvantage multinational organization, not least by China based organization to register technologies as well as trademarks that are already being used outside the state. Patent trolling is also rising, with local organizations even purchasing foreign patents even if their quality was doubtful.
This legal system also elaborates upon another Chinese reversal for the US smartphone manufacturer, in which a court in Beijing judged in May 2016 that a China based organization can use the name “iPhone” on its purses as well as wallets. 3 years ago, the Cupertino based organization paid a sum of $60 million to device manufacturer Proview for settling a litigation over the trademark iPad in the country, which the Hong Kong based organization argued to be holding since 2000.
In China, Chinese state controlled media identified Tim Cook’s company as 1 of the 8 American “ guardian warriors” tech organizations that have “seamlessly infiltrated China”. Beijing also compelled Apple to shut down its iBook as well as iTunes Movies services in April 2016,7 months after they were rolled out. The US tech organization is especially quite vulnerable in China as by offering both hardware and content it becomes politically a threat for a government which is interested in keeping a check over the content available to consumers in the country.
Can Yahoo Mail Get Its Savior?
The mail service can be boosted if some mobile firm acquires Yahoo core business
Yahoo Inc's email system can be made better if the Internet search asset auction is won over by a telecommunications company. If so happens, then Yahoo mail will have potential to surpass the category giants like Gmail.
Through the telecommunication firm, the service is more likely to be introduced to a wider audience. Yahoo’s bidding for sale of its core business of Web, advertising products, mail have entered into its third and final round and the telecomm organizations AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. are on their mark to make a compelling offer, according to the sources privy to the matter.
The source further added that a group backed by Warren Buffet –Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. –and led by Dan Gilbert –Founder of Quicken Loans Inc. –has also made it to the third round of bidding.
Through a telecommunication company Yahoo Mail distribution on mobile devices can be increased which will give it competing chance to fight with Apple Mail and Gmail. On many Apple and Android devices, the later come pre-installed, a telecom firm might boost Yahoo mail in the right direction. In the similar fashion, Yahoo's media unit can be improved.
According to an analyst of research firm International Data Corporation, Karsten Weide, the broader distribution can be a “game changer” for Yahoo mail and its other older services which are getting crushed by its strong competitors. According to Weide, Yahoo has good products with equally better content however it’s lacking in distribution has kept it behind the rivals.
He also added that over recent years, the telecom companies have been putting a condition in order to carry the manufacturers’ products therefore it is conveying to the manufacturers regarding the apps they want to see on smartphones. In such way, Yahoo mail might get its due boost.
Also, Yahoo’s technology can be prime premise for the telecoms to place ads. Chief Revenue Officer of search and performance marketing firm, Acquisio, Dave McIninch expressed that if Verizon wins the purchase then it would become number 3 ad tech player after the likes of Facebook and Google.
Whether Verizon is interested in Yahoo’s mail or not is still unclear. Earlier when the telecom bought AOL then it didn’t place AOL mails on the phones, noted by Laura Martin –analyst at Needham and Company. Therefore, it can be assumed that Verizon is more interested in Yahoo’s ad technology.
Last year, the search engine giant launched few new features including, but not limited to, password-free sign-in that verifies users via text message and inbox capable of accessing other email services.
Company’s future and the details of its buyers will be known in the near future. Yahoo’s once popular mail service might be in a plunge but through right acquisition, the internet search giant’s core products can be overhauled.
Amazon Targets Alibaba In India
The American e-commerce company invests in India to give a tough time to Alibaba in the country
Amazon has entered India to have strong dominance in its e-commerce market. The e-commerce giant had plan right timing to attack in the market whose once major players –Snapdeal and Flipkart –have been already shaken by the invasion of Chinese e-commerce giant, Alibaba.
The local enterprises are already weak and a single blow will leave them tumbling away. The US e-commerce company’s founder and CEO Jeff Bezos made the most out of Indian’s PM Narendra Modi’s latest visit to the US. Mr. Bezos declared a $3 billion investment for its business operations in India.
Not only the investment figure is significant in size but it is also higher than the online retailer’s previous $2 billion investment in the region. However, the more significance of the investment is that it has surpassed the highest investment raised by Indian online retailer Flipkart. Since its business commencement in 2007, the Bengalaru based organization has raised a total $3.2 billion investment till date. But the organization is burning cash rapidly and running out of new ideas to grow business.
Previously commenting on the local online retailer India Value Fund Advisors( IVFA) partner Haresh Chawla stated the Indian organization is facing huge damage as far as its leading management is concerned. The article mentions since the “middle of last year” the company has grown elusively, whereas innovation hasn’t taken place.
Since then, Flipkart has been in the negative light resulting in its devaluation by investors to $11 bn from $15.2 bn. Therefore, Amazon is aiming at two targets; by heavily investing, it’s nudging down space from Snapdeal as well as Flipkart whereas at that same moment it’s preparing a foundation to contest a huge battle with the Chinese E-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Limited.
The Hangzhou based organization has entered the Indian market by investing in Paytm as well as Snapdeal. It also runs a Business-to-Business (B2B) marketplace in the nation. Amazon is interested to beat Alibaba who has crushed it in its homeland –China. Nevertheless, it has proved to be lucky in the Indian region meeting its own growth objective. Jeff has stated “Our Amazon.in team is surpassing even our most ambitious milestones”
Jeff Bezos’ organization is establishing its biggest software and development facility outside US. Soon, the South Asian country will turn into a battle ground for the huge organizations, the smaller companies like Flipkart and Snapdeal will either strive to make some space for themselves or get crushed by the behemoths.
