VietNamNet Bridge – With the domain name changed into “.com”
from a Vietnamese domain name “.vn”, which allows avoiding the registration at
Vietnamese agencies, Chinese Baidu’s social network “Baidu Tieba” has made
debut on schedule.
Despite the violent criticism
from the Vietnamese media and Internet users’ community, on July 16, Baidu, the
Chinese leading Internet company officially launched the social network called
“Baidu Tieba” – the Vietnamese version, instead of the initially advertised
name “Baidu tra da quan” (Baidu ice tea shop).
The social network uses an
international domain name vn.tieba.com instead of “.vn” or “.com.vn”. However,
when users access to the previous domain names tieba.baidu.com.vn or
tradaquan.vn, they would still be able to access the social network, because
these would automatically lead to vn.tieba.com.
Besides, Baidu also provides
online information inquiry service at http://zhidao.baidu.com.vn/, searching
tool and online services at http://vn.hao123.com.
An Internet expert said that
using an international domain name “.com” is a wise move made by Baidu. Since
Baidu does not use a Vietnamese domain name, the Vietnamese agencies would not
be able to request Baidu to register the social network services, the thing
they can do if Baidu used “.vn” domain name.
The expert said that there has
been no regulation forcing foreign companies, when using the domain name “.vn”,
to make registration to the management agencies. However, if referring to the
Circular No. 09 and the Decree No. 97on the management over Internet services,
watchdog agencies would be able to impose punishment on violators.
Since Baidu has decided to use an
international domain name “.com”, there is only one way of managing the Chinese
social network. Drafting a new decree on Internet service management, when
international social networks, using “.com” domain name obtains a certain
number of members or visitors, they would have report to management agencies
and ask for the permission to run the social networks.
Only by that time, would the
management agencies be able to apply necessary sanctions or release the
decisions to impose punishment.
Baidu would bring difficulties to Vietnamese businesses
Do Ngoc Hung, Director of VOG,
which is running PhunuNet social network, said that there are many differences
between Baidu Tieba’s services and domestic Internet firms’ services.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese and Chinese people have some similarities in habits.
Therefore, Baidu Tieba can bring what users need with outstanding features and
simplicity in using.
“As far as I know, Baidu Tieba
has attracted a certain number of Vietnamese users. Baidu Tieba would grow
continuously in the time to come and it may dominate the market, if domestic
firms disregard the rival,” he said.
Hung went on to say that the
launching of Baidu Tieba in Vietnam, one of the two most powerful social
network services of Baidu which have been very successful in China, would
threaten the survival of Vietnamese social networks.
According to Phan Anh Tuan,
Deputy Director of VTC Online, though Baidu Tieba may affect Go.vn social
network, to date, the users of Go.vn still keeps rising. However, it is likely
that Baidu Tieba would be able to attract Vietnamese users, because the box for
discussions on Baidu Tieba has the similarities with forums, a favorite model
in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Le Hong Minh, General
Director of VNG, keeps calm about the appearance of Baidu in Vietnam, saying
that the presence of Baidu, or any other foreign social networks in Vietnam,
would create certain impacts on the domestic market.
Minh said Vietnamese firms have
no other choice than accepting the new comers.
Source: Buu Dien
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Healthcare and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programmes. Many thanks for visiting www.yourvietnamexpert.com and/or contacting us at contact@yourvietnamexpert.com
No comments:
Post a Comment