Africa - New playground for Chindia

February 2010 came with events which shows African love for both China and India.
Africa is clearly being identified as next growth markets and is being eyed by Indian and Chinese companies for expansion. We have seen news of active acquisition in field of Oil and Gas and also automobiles, example Mahidra and Tatas setting up shops in South Africa as part of MEA region strategy.
Next in line is telecom business landscape. Chinese and Indian players are currently first and second biggest markets by subscribers in the world and growing at a fast pace.
Wireless story has been successful in both the countries, and private wireless brands like Bharti and Unicom have made healthy balance sheet. There is surely an interesting scene building up in telecom in Asia region. Global telecom brands are actively looking options to enter both these markets whereas domestic telecom brands need to look outside to expand for growth. Bharti aggresive bid for MTN confirmed global ambitions of Indian players to buyout in other markets.
What best can be options for expansion than Middle East and Africa region. MEA telecom landscape had been monopoly driven by state owned incumbents till late, but with MEA countries opening market for new players in both fixed and mobile space, telecom opportunities are showing in ample.Market previously controlled by State incumbents, limited telecom services, low teledensity are just good starters for any telecom players to jump on the opportunity.
Therefore, for China and Indian telecom players, MEA region is a good bet, seeing region proximity, telecom congomelarate opening in multiple countries in MEA, valuations, opportunity are some of parameters to lure them for acquisitions.
An invisible race has just started between Chinese and Indian players to enter MEA market, with Bharti bidding for Zain African operations and China Unicom bidding for Nigeria Telecom.Valuations of both these deals are high like $10bn for Zain and $2bn for NITEL, still these valuations are seen positive by analysts for these players.
I am seeing telecom landscape in MEA and Chindia region wherein, you will have few big brands controling major of the market say 5 years down the line. This is in assumptions that M&A in Indian telecom landscape will kickoff as expected in 1-2 year timeframe.
Africa is surely next playground for Chindia telecom brand to develop and showcase their business muscles.

Google threat to exist and China -part2

Shares of Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) were down about 2% by early Wednesday afternoon. While that's hardly a bloodbath, it's worth noting that virtually all of Google's key competitors were rallying..

This was bound to happen..after all there is no place of emotions and principle for raising voice againt wrong in business world.

HP, Microsoft Team Up to Tackle the Cloud

Came across this interesting alliance..HP and Microsoft for cloud computing..
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2010/tc20100113_231894.htm
I think most of the vendors wants to test cloud computing and best alliance ofcourse a hardware vendor partnering with software giants.
But interestingly, I rarely get to see partnership of software vendors partnering with hardware tech giants.
Most of the IT companies are offering cloud computing services with hardware alliance as per customer's choice... lets c where does this space shapes up..

Google threatens to exit China..Really!!!

Here comes one more piece of thriling news in 2010.... Google, one of the fast growing company threatens to exit China, one of the fastest growing economy!!! give me a break

Story of censorship and rule of hitlership in not a new thing in China.Google entered the same China knwoing all this really well. Then one fine morning it wakes up and says...Hey!! I was actually not aware of such a thing like innocent school boy not knowing that shouting is punishiable crime in school ;)
And it happens, Google faces some issues as yet another company in China and it cried Foul...it cant get funnier than it.
Why did such a giant took that big leap knowing that water is not clean in there..and if you are theree in water why shout that you are getting wet due to water around.
This is 2010 PR stunt for this giant which again gives it much required freee attention, increase Brand value and trust me brand identity is a big money business in millions of $$$$..
you get highest hits, SEO, analyst coverage talking about your great products for free while writing about the pain to faced in China.
And I have no qualms with Google, after all I am impressed with their marketing strategy ;)

They surely Rock as always!!!

2010- Whats in store for telecom smartphones

Here comes 2010!!! and brings some good news to start off.. easing recession and growing company confidence on business piepline, although consumer confidence has yet to show some
strong positive signs.
And to catch these signs wwhen they start growing this year, smartphone war is heating up.
Google has launched its Nexus...anf it surely it names apt with expectations of creating new rules of the game.
Google nexus will be sold directly in US without any provider lockin, though option of $199 is also given with operator lock in... direct phoen will burn $500 from ur pocket ;)
Direct selling model is already a hit in Asian market and thats where the next big market is... and google knows eaxctly where to hit. Showcase in US and mint money in Asia... thats what google is targeting.
There are few concerns on customer service and support centre for direct connections, but then google whiteboarding will surely have a smart answer forit I am sure.
With data fast becoming the thing in telecom world, smartphones are the next big thing in telco space, and things will revolve around them.. connectivity and communication on the move for everything..and I mean everything..

Google Powermeter is here..

Yet another industry changing product from Google....Power meter

http://earth2tech.com/2009/02/11/how-googles-powermeter-will-affect-the-smart-meter-industry/

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/power-to-people.html

Interview with Warren Buffet

I really liked this article and myself saw this interview on leading business channel in India.
One reason is that is shows how thirsty are media ppl to just think short term and just points to improve their weekly TRPs. I dont believe the so called experts who come on these business channels.

Second reason is ofcourse so true points from Warren Buffet :)

Happy reading
http://www.valueresearchonline.com/story/h2_storyview.asp?str=100204

A new SUN rise on Planet Oracle

Finally, its official surprise... Oracle is all set to acquire Sun for 7.4Bn USD.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/20/technology/Oracle_Sun/index.htm?postversion=2009042011

The traditional model has always been of bigies selling hardware for margins and bundling software, but now it will be real interesting to see Oracle, a traditionally Software giant bundling hardware ...... Reverse business model...

Relevant article for just graduated MBAss

Found this interesting article by Jack and Suzy Welch in Business Week
For those who dont know about Jack.... Jack Welch is great leader who turned around GE and made it.
Having graduated myself in recession after engg in 2002 , I can really co-relate with his thought and they are so true. It is really important to keep patience and not loose long term focus and trust me you will definately reach your goal...Recession or No Recession..!!!

Here is the link:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_17/b4128000948572.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_news+%2B+analysis