Tencent and MNC build joint venture in Indonesia
Tencent has sharpened its focus on Southeast Asia’s mobile messaging space after it opened a joint-venture in Indonesia, the region’s largest country. The move is aimed at increasing the presence of its WeChat service among the country’s 249 million population. Tencent has been busy promoting WeChat in Indonesia through a campaign that has combined local meet-ups with celebrities, visible marketing campaigns and — as of last week — a broadcast TV ad campaign.
Japan court rejects Samsung claim against Apple
A Japanese court Thursday rejected a claim by Samsung that Apple stole its technology, in the latest round of a global legal battle between the smartphone giants over patents. The Tokyo District Court ruled that Samsung has no rights over data transmission technology used in some of Apple’s iPhone smartphones, said a spokesman for Samsung’s Tokyo office. In a separate case, the Tokyo District Court in August rejected Apple’s claim that Samsung stole its technology over synchronising a smartphone’s music data with that on a computer.
China’s UCBrowser gathers 100 million users overseas
UCBrowser has total 400 million worldwide, but so far there’s no information how many users are coming from overseas, as comparison to China users. Today at a conference, UCWeb CEO Yu Yongfu said that, as of December 2012, its mobile-oriented UC Browser has accumulated 100 million overseas users. A UCWeb representative tells that today’s UCWeb event was devoted to mobile gaming, where COO Zhu Shunyan laid out its China-oriented mobile gaming plans.
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp is like Silicon Valley campus with Chinese characteristics
Wall Street Journal publishes a report about Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) office and residence complex in Shanghai’s Pudong area, China. Unlike some other office complex in China, which more like factories, SMIC is more humanized. It’s described as Silicon Valley with Chinese characteristics. Founded by American Richard Chang, SMIC made the creation of an attractive campus a key part of his recruitment strategy. It’s very easy to find decent playgrounds, parks, schools and churches inside the complex facility.
Singapore-based HiringBoss obtains obtains $5 million investment from JAPCO
The Asia-based human resources and e-recruiting software firm, announced the completion of its Series A financing with Japan’s JAFCO, totaling $5 million US Dollars. This major new investment further underlines HiringBoss’s status as Asia’s fastest-growing talent management providers and one of the region’s most exciting new start-ups. HiringBoss will use the investment to accelerate R&D, product development and significantly increase their regional sales and local support mechanisms.
