75 percent of internet use will be mobile in 2017
In 2017, mobile device will become the main vehicle for accessing the internet and internet advertising. The Asia-Pacific area leads the world in the fastest adaptation to mobile and smartphone technologies and Asian consumers will shape all aspects of mobile in the future.
Twitter keeps their Hong Kong office
Despite transitioning its advertiser sales support and media partnership to the regional headquarter in Singapore, Twitter insists on keeping their main office in Hong Kong.
The coming wave of eCommerce for consumer goods
In 2016 FMCG online sales accounted for less than 1% of revenue in Southeast Asia. Global consulting firm, A.T Kearney predicts this will expand to 8 ~ 10% of FMCG sales by 2020. This shift in consumer buying habits will create both opportunities and challenges for FMCG brands.
Google holds firm as Singapore tightens rules on brand support of festivals
Foreign brands operating in Singapore including Apple, Facebook, Google and Twitter that want to support local events held at Speakers’ Corner in Hong Lim Park, will now have to secure permits. Despite the challenge, Google has confirmed that it will continue their support to the LGBT Pink Dot festival, one of the city’s most popular events.
Origami Pay aims to corner Japan’s mobile payments space
Origami Pay is a new service that aims to capitalize on Japan’s high smartphone penetration. Started as an ecommerce platform, Origami Pay has evolved into a system that blurs ecommerce and epayments. The company believes that “deals and data” will be key for the company to differentiate itself.
Feel anxious with your mobile device? You are not alone
Market research agency Nielsen on says that 73% of Singaporeans enjoy the freedom of being connected anywhere, anytime, while 66% strongly or somewhat agreed that their mobile device had bettered their lives. However, a large number of Singaporean’s said they feel “anxious” when their mobile phone isn’t available.
Hitachi reveals finger vein authentication
Hitachi has developed a finger vein authentication system that uses an ordinary smartphone camera with software processing to validate the identity of a user. The company plans to deploy systems for online shopping and financial transactions within a few years.
Apple will open another R&D center in Japan
Eager to develop more exciting products, Apple has announced plans to open dozens of R&D centers around the world and increase its R&D budgets. During his most recent trip to Tokyo, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the company plans to open a new R&D center in Japan in the near future.
Samsung and singtel are upping their smart home game in Asia
Samsung has partnered with Thai property developer AP to assimilate an array of smart home solutions that can enable owners to automate lights, air-conditioners and other appliances at the touch of a screen. At the same time, Singtel has launched “True-I”, an app that centralizes all compatible smart home devices to communicate with everything from motion sensors to smart cameras.
Airbnb is finally taking China seriously
With China’s outbound tourism booming, AirBnB wants to lure them away from hotels – as well as persuade others to open their homes to travelers coming to China. In order to expand in China the company has set up a local entity to store personal data and payments information on Chinese serves to be in compliance with Chinese e-commerce legal requirements.
Samsung kills the Galaxy Note 7 for good
Samsung is permanently discontinuing production and sales of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, owing to safety fears over defective batteries. The product withdraw and reputation damages have lowered the company’s stock valuation by $17 billion.
Paktor raises $32.5m into ‘social entertainment’
The Singaporean company will use the funding to expand further into the growing “social entertainment arena”. Paktor has 20 million registered users, and at the end of 2015 it introduced subscription-based services, which it claims have contributed to a 22-fold revenue growth in 2016 and made the company profitable.
Apple is struggling in China
Apple’s Mac event in late October was so underwhelming that Chinese fans thinking about Windows based computers instead. Iphone sales have been struggling in China recently due to the rise of Huawei and Xiaomi, and now Apple is losing customers to window based computers and smartphones.
