Catching Mice in China
Technology and business in and around China



Dell’s Growing Retail Sales Channel: So What? (Jul 4)
China Tech News reports: According to Min Yida, president of Dell Greater China, Dell has 1,800 direct shops in China and the company hopes to increase the number to 3,000 by the end of 2008. Min is quoted by local media as saying that Dell has done a lot to change its business model over the last [...] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Dell’s Growing Retail Sales Channel: So What?", url: "http://www.vaubanconsulting.com/blog/2008/07/04/dells-growing-retail-sales-channel-so-what/" });


Roundup Ready: UMPCs Coming to China (Jul 4)
Shanghai Daily reports: THOSE who like to stay in touch while on the move will be delighted by the new and cheap ultra-mobile personal computers. At least 10 new mini PCs are expected to debut within the next two months, with prices ranging from 2,999 yuan (US$438) to 4,999 yuan, half the cost of laptops. These models may [...] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Roundup Ready: UMPCs Coming to China", url: "http://www.vaubanconsulting.com/blog/2008/07/04/roundup-ready-umpcs-coming-to-china/" });


Better Get Your Hanzi On, 点中国 Is Coming (Jul 3)
Shanghai Daily reports: THE Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has agreed that “.中国”, meaning China, can officially begin use as a domain name next year, Jiefang Daily reported. The China Internet Network Information Center made the announcement on Tuesday, saying it will provide a more convenient method for netizens who only use Chinese to surf [...] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Better Get Your Hanzi On, 点中国 Is Coming", url: "http://www.vaubanconsulting.com/blog/2008/07/03/better-get-your-hanzi-on-%e7%82%b9%e4%b8%ad%e5%9b%bd-is-coming/" });


Would the Olympics Look Better on an iPhone? (Jul 2)
The South China Morning Post reports: China Mobile (SEHK: 0941, announcements, news) , the world’s biggest telephone company, is closer to reaching an agreement to offer Apple’s iPhone after the US consumer electronics firm stopped demanding operators to surrender part of the monthly telephone bill. “Apple’s policy of requiring revenue-sharing has been the biggest obstacle in the [...] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Would the Olympics Look Better on an iPhone?", url: "http://www.vaubanconsulting.com/blog/2008/07/02/would-the-olympics-look-better-on-an-iphone/" });


China Mobile’s Feet Begin to Feel Warm (Jun 30)
Marbridge Daily reports: China Mobile (NYSE: CHL; 0941.HK) president Wang Jianzhou revealed that China Mobile has been working on the takeover of TD-SCDMA networks in Qingdao and Baoding, and will complete the process before the Olympics. To date, China Mobile has invested RMB 15 bln on TD-SCDMA networks and built 14,688 base stations. The HSDPA upgrade of [...] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "China Mobile’s Feet Begin to Feel Warm", url: "http://www.vaubanconsulting.com/blog/2008/06/30/china-mobiles-feet-begin-to-feel-warm/" });


A Digital Epistle from One PRC to Another (Jun 26)
Stopbadware (hat tip Computer Crime Research Center) reports: The majority of the Internet’s malware-infected websites are located on Chinese networks, finds a new report released today by StopBadware.org, the university-based research initiative aimed at protecting users from dangerous software. The report also identifies the 10 network blocks that contain the largest number of badware sites. Six [...] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "A Digital Epistle from One PRC to Another", url: "http://www.vaubanconsulting.com/blog/2008/06/26/a-digital-epistle-from-one-prc-to-another/" });


Internet Market Research for Thugs (Jun 26)
Shanghai Daily reports: FOUR suspects from Liaoning Province have been arrested for trying to blackmail a car owner using personal information they bought online. It is the city’s first criminal case in which suspects allegedly committed a crime with personal information they bought illegally online, Changning District prosecutors said. …The court heard that on March 28, a local [...] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Internet Market Research for Thugs", url: "http://www.vaubanconsulting.com/blog/2008/06/26/internet-market-research-for-thugs/" });


上Fi: Doubling Down on 3G (Jun 25)
China Tech News reports: A representative from China Mobile (CHL) Shanghai has told the local media that they’ve prepared to build 1500 TD-SCDAM based stations in Shanghai starting this month. China Mobile plans to bring the total number of TD base stations in Shanghai to about 3000 by the end of this year to make the city [...] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "上Fi: Doubling Down on 3G", url: "http://www.vaubanconsulting.com/blog/2008/06/26/%e4%b8%8afi-doubling-down-on-3g/" });


Microsoft: We’re Not Abnormal, We’re on Sale (Jun 25)
Trading Markets reports: Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT)’s Office 2007 will be sold at half prices in the company’s online stores and franchised stores in China from July 1, 2008. It is the second unilateral price change of the computer technology giant after it sold Windows XP operating systems at half prices through distributors like Beijing Federal Software [...] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Microsoft: We’re Not Abnormal, We’re on Sale", url: "http://www.vaubanconsulting.com/blog/2008/06/25/microsoft-were-not-abnormal-were-on-sale/" });


China Mobile: The Check is in the Mail (Jun 25)
China Tech News reports: Chinese media reports that China Mobile (CHL), one of the major mobile service providers in China, is slowly taking over the TD network of China Netcom (CN) and China Telecom (CHA). China Mobile is said to be in the process of taking over China Netcom’s TD network in Qingdao, Shandong Province and China [...] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "China Mobile: The Check is in the Mail", url: "http://www.vaubanconsulting.com/blog/2008/06/25/china-mobile-the-check-is-in-the-mail/" });