Vietnamese search service launched mobile search recently with focus on BlackBerry user experience. BlackBerry users could have some problems reading Vietnamese fonts and m.xalo.vn can correct. Xalo is trying to build its advantage in local language against incumbent Big Google.

Technorati Tags: Google, Xalo

Indian social networking service BigAdda faces big problem of traffic from search engine Google these days since its organic result from the Big G when entering BigAdda into the search box returned the bad results with top from bigadda.in (humor site).
There is no PageRank for BigAdda.com also. Who can save BigAdda now?

Technorati Tags: BigAdda, Google, PageRank

One of the top Vietnam’s online news portal Vietnamnet had replaced its current ad sales agent (24h.com.vn) with new partner, ADT Communications. Vietnamnet Chief Nguyen Anh Tuan made the announcement at New World Hotel on January 14, 2009.
Ironically when I clicked the top banner featuring ADT’s sales exclusivity the result page was 404 error, this address is not in existence. ADT is a new kid in online advertising space.
The move is a big loss to 24h.com.vn ad network while competition is getting hot.

Technorati Tags: 24h, ADT, Vietnamnet

Baidu plans to move its bid ranking service search results from the bottom of the first page to right side of the second page for companies whose purchasing price was lower than other current offers. The change will be effective January 5.

Baidu began offering pay-per-action advertising in mid-December, reports 21cn.com. The company provides text, picture and flash advertising on tens of thousands of Baidu Union member sites, said the report.

Via JLM

Technorati Tags: Baidu

Baidu released a list of hottest search keywords for 2008:

1 QQ
2 Mp3
3 Novel
4 Movie
5 Game
6 Xunlei
7 NBA
8 Handset
9 Music
10 Kart Rider

While Google China’s most popular search keywords for 2008 are:

1 Sina
2 NetEase
3 Taobao
4 Youku
5 Tudou
6 QQ
7 Sohu
8 Xunlei
9 UUsee
10 NBA

Technorati Tags: Baidu, China, Google

VC backed search service Xalo.vn just made a change to it UI (now seems a front page) that would bring me back to the pre dot com bubble with many search engines mushroomed around the world in 90′.
We did not understand why Tinh Van Media decided to change to a portal like search service, that could make users think of many local portals such as Timnhanh, Zing …
We think focus is better, users come to search engine to find relevant information not to read news.

Technorati Tags: Timnhanh, Xalo, Zing

A new study by Yahoo and Nielsen conducted in Southeast Asia said the online ad spend in the region could reach $182.3m by 2010.
The joint study covers Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, and forecasts spend levels for both display and search advertising for the next two years.
“Stuart Pike, industry solutions director for Nielsen Online in APAC, said while Singapore would be the most “mature” market in SE Asia and Vietnam the most “immature”, all five markets have “the basic fundamentals for growth”.

“Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines will be driving 90% of the growth in the next five years. Indonesia has a bigger scope for growth. [But] it’s definitely an exciting time to be in the online industry in Singapore,” he said.

They did not released the detail number of Vietnam market but we estimated Vietnamese market should hit US$20 millions (conservative) with increasing share of pay per click advertising.

Technorati Tags: Nielsen Online, Yahoo

While many ad networks were closed down or scaled back, the world’s largest online retailer Amazon has created an online advertising company named Adzinia Media Group LLC. Amazon spokeswoman Patty Smith confirmed that Adzinia is a separate company that “sells online display and email advertising products to advertisers” and said it has been around for almost a year. Adzinia will handle ad inventory of Amazon properties including some world biggest websites: amazon.com , imdb.com, alexa.com.
With years of experience in affiliate marketing, Amazon will not have much difficultly in managing ad network business.

Technorati Tags: Affiliate marketing, Amazon

Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) plans to officially release its right-side advertising system, “Phoenix Nest,” in the second quarter of 2009, reports qq.com citing sources. September reports said the new system, similar to Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) AdWords, would be released soon, but Baidu has yet to announce a release date. The report said Baidu planned to spend three years developing the new product, but has speeded the release in response to recent press.

Technorati Tags: AdWords, Baidu, Google

In the world of search service with big names such as Google, Yahoo, MSN … there are some vertical search: Truveo for video, SimplyHired and Recruit.net for job. Another way to go is visual search by Like.com (just raised $32M Series C)
Now came the Modista that “simplifies online shopping by searching inventories across multiple retailers and displaying results in an intuitive interface. Our patent-pending technology organizes items according to their visual similarity using digital image processing and machine learning algorithms.”
Modista’s UI seems fit female users while Like.com is better for savvy searchers.
Let’s see how Modista team develop their product in the coming time.

Technorati Tags: Google, Like, Modista, MSN, Yahoo