Google sees potential for mobile internet space in Asia

Google sees potential for mobile internet space in Asia
By Desmond Wong | Posted: 20 May 2010 2008 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 The Google logo on the rooftop of the Google China headoffice building in Beijing

 
SINGAPORE: More Asians are accessing online content via their mobile phones rather than their computers and US-based Google wants a slice of the mobile internet market.

Speaking at a conference in Singapore, the internet giant said some issues will need to be addressed before the segment can take off in the region.

Mobile phone penetration is high in Asia and more users are surfing the web or checking emails on their handset.

Asians are also quick to embrace technology and Google said this is an opportunity for companies in the region to create applications and even take their business offshore.

Charles Rim, principal, Corporate Development, Google Inc, said: "In Asia, a lot of these mobile apps have developed a lot quicker than they have in the States. Mobile in the States was pretty rudimentary until about this year or last year.

“So that's an area where I think companies in Asia have an opportunity to do things in the States. We haven't seen a lot of successes yet, but I think it's a question of timing.”

Google said tech savvy economies like South Korea and Japan have a vibrant mobile internet sector.

But some parts of Asia are still lagging when it comes to pricing and infrastructure.

Google added that prohibitive prices for mobile devices and data plans will also hamper the sector's growth.

Mr Charles Rim said: "Today, with very bad speeds, if your broadband experience is still only going to be 150Kbps to 200Kbps and it's going to cost you S$100 a month, no one is going to do it.

“But the other end of the spectrum is Korean, where everyone's doing 5 Mbps and you can do all you can eat data for 40 bucks, then everyone's doing it.”

Google added that firms in emerging markets like Asia have an ace up their sleeve they can exploit.

First movers like Baidu in China are familiar to their domestic users and companies can use this familiarity to secure their gains in their home markets, thus making them much harder for foreign firms to dislodge. 

- CNA/vm 

- wong chee tat :)