Internet Observer

新浪,你能掘到多少金

February 28, 2008 · No Comments

每期的《经济观察报》都能给我带来一些惊喜,这期的关于新浪准备掘金网游的内容,又着实让我思考了一番。说实在,新浪与NcSoft(韩国最大的网游公司)并不成功的合作经历,让我怀疑它能在这条路上走多远。

新浪重返网游无非是对这块肥肉动心了。将近200亿的巨大市场规模,约50%的增长速度,新浪能不动心吗?多年冤家搜狐、腾讯和网易在网游市场的颇多斩获,以及巨人、金山们的无限风光,能让新浪不眼红吗?但是作为市场的迟到者,新浪还能吃到多少肉,这还要打一个大大的问号。

先来看看新浪进入网游产业的时机。众所周知,任何一个行业都要经历不同的发展阶段才能步入成熟,网游也不例外。而多数行业的发展历程又大致可以分为四个阶段:一是起步阶段,进入门槛低,企业少、成本低、利润高;二是发展阶段,进入门槛低,越来越多企业拥入,利润保持在较高水平;三是整合阶段,进入门槛显著提高,竞争日趋激烈,利润开始降低,越来越多的中小企业被兼并或者破产;四是成熟阶段,进入门槛高,行业利润被降到合理水平,领先企业依靠完善的产业链形成鼎立之势,中小企业被完全边缘化。先来张图(点击这里看大图):


上图我们可以看出,网游市场规模增长速度逐渐减慢。另据《2007年中国游戏产业调查报告》显示,截至2007年11月,中国网络游戏研发公司数量已达126家,比2006年的93家增长35.5%。公司数量的大量增长,竞争日趋激烈,利润开始降低,同时网游又是一个市场高度集中的行业,盛大、网易和巨人占据着网游市场将近50%的市场份额,前11家企业2007年的实际销售收入总和更是占到了中国网络游戏市场总销售收入的93.3%,使得行业的进入壁垒大大提高。加之政策上对网游市场秩序的规范,都表明网游产业正开始走入整合期。我想对新浪来说进入得未免有些迟了。(点击这里看大图):

当然迟到者有迟到者的玩法,但是要取得成功,必须在某一方面有其过人之处或创新之处,要么产品,要么市场。前几天,在艾瑞上看到关于史玉柱的文章,很是感慨他独具的目光,下面是一点文摘:

  2005年9月,《征途》完成开发。就在史玉柱要以“永久免费”概念切入网游市场时,2005年11月,盛大抢先一周宣布将包括《传奇》在内的三款游戏免费。

  《征途》副董事回来检讨说,不该和盛大的副总接触,将《征途》永久免费信息透露出去。好在《征途》从开发设计上就是“永久免费,靠卖道具赚钱”的模式,所以,能将游戏千方百计“聚焦”在“道具”上,聚焦到不断“刺激”“有钱人”攀比买“道具”上。

  史玉柱不怕陈天桥,史玉柱怕丁磊:“网易要现金有现金,要人有人,最可怕的是丁磊本人非常重视网游。”“所幸网易做卡通类,和我们不在一个市场。”

  史玉柱也怕QQ.但“QQ主要是休闲类的,不是我们这个圈子里。”

  史玉柱看不上九城。“《魔兽世界》的确实好,3D里面可能5年之内出不了超过的,但它的致命伤在文化。举个例子,中国人很怕死人,外国人不怕,美国人当个亡灵可能很开心,中国人谁愿意当僵尸?所以,《魔兽世界》30万在线,已经到头了。”

至于金山,史玉柱没时间研究。“我的一款游戏就能把他所有游戏给超过去了。”

巨人的成功在于其差异化定位和免费的模式。当然有差异化不行,面对着众多的竞争者,它们之间也有差异,为什么就巨人能脱颖而出呢?在加上一个诱人的创新模式—免费,和有效的营销。

那新浪凭什么呢?文章提到了两点:一是可能将自主研发网络游戏;二是已经推出的多功能网络游戏辅助工具UTG。

新浪的优势在于其拥有庞大的点击量或者说用户群,以及现有的广告客户资源。文章提到一点就是如果将现有的广告客户资源植入网络游戏中,也就是做网游广告。但是其弱势正是新浪缺乏一个有效的载体,总不能把自己的广告客户植入别人的游戏中吧。因此,新浪要开发自己的网络游戏。

我相信对于新浪来说,要开发网游并不是难事,但是关键是网游开发团队和项目都被巨人和盛大网罗走了。巨人网络刚刚完成上市,史玉柱便频频向媒体透露,将收购一些优秀的网游开发团队和项目。盛大近期也明显加速了收购步伐,今年7月份推出“风云计划”,“准备了20亿元的现金,专门用于收购市场检验成功、未来潜力大的游戏,计划造就20个像彭海涛一样的亿万富翁”。因此,新浪要找到优秀的研发人才必须付出较高的代价,在资金方面,新浪是很难和盛大或巨人竞争的。

同时,新浪的网游运营能力也是值得怀疑的。与NcSoft合作运营了三年的《天堂》及《天堂II》并没有如预期那样进入国内前三名,甚至占据首位。更糟糕的是,运营团队都是NcSoft,新浪没有取得一点技术和运营方面的进步。

因此,自主研发运营网游,新浪或许可凭其庞大的用户数赚到一点钱,但绝不会很多,除非新浪有什么惊人的模式创新!做个简单的假设,新浪能做到搜狐那样的规模,那么也就是2.5亿,这仅相当于其2007年收入的14%,而且这里面还不包括运营研发成本等。

自主研发网游同时会给新浪带来游戏广告流失的风险。看看网易、搜狐的游戏频道,已经没有其他品牌的广告了,都是自己的广告。我想这也是值得新浪深思的。

多功能网络游戏辅助工具UTG,也就是网游平台,是新浪的另一战略。现在,盛大在做,九城也在做,相信越来越多的网游公司会加入这一行列中来。手中没有兵器的新浪如何与它们斗争呢?

网游的钱,或许并不如新浪们想的那么快!新浪能否在网游闯出自己的一片天,让我们拭目以待吧。

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应届生求职网商业模式分析(Business Model Analysis on Yingjiesheng.com)

February 24, 2008 · No Comments

最近一段时间找工作,发现身边的一些同学都在使用应届生求职网(yingjiesheng.com)。加之最近看了毛心宇老师关于PPG商业模式的创新分析,便饶有兴趣的尝试分析一下应届生求职网,想看看应届生求职网到底是靠什么吸引了如此之多的大学应届生和在校学生?又是靠什么来维持公司的运作和盈利的呢?它凭什么能够与中华英才网前程无忧智联招聘等三大行业巨头竞争的呢?

商业模式分析(点击此处看大图):

从左图,我们基本可以分析出其创新点有以下几个:

产品/服务:说实在,应届生求职网对大学生需求把握还是很到位的。我们的需求是什么呢?不向社会人员那样,需要搜索与自己相关的工作,我们是学生,对职业的定位、行业的选择多少有点模糊,因此我们更喜欢大量而又及时的信息。我身边的人,包括我,都不喜欢中华英才网,为什么呢?信息量小,更新速度慢,而且更可怕的是网申系统(做得你绝对可以吐血)。当然,信息量小,更新慢也是它们信息来源所限制。它们信息来源于企业提供的信息,而应届生是搜集聚合各大高校BBS、就业网甚至招聘网站的信息,因此总是最新的、最及时的。
“一站式”服务。应届生求职网还提供求职正装、求职旅社和求职照等配套服务,发布电子杂志。
从Alexa流量看来,应届生的社区也吸引了很多大学生,占到总流量的7%。社区在一定程度上提高了应届生求职网的用户粘性,更多的用户乐意于在上面查找各种笔试面试经验,寻找各种问题的答案。
从企业方来说,免费发布职位以及大量的应届生群体的确也是挺诱人,我想他们也会乐意在上面发布信息,做广告。

目标客户:在线招聘的大众市场基本上由三大巨头控制了,它们拥有大量的人才和企业数据库,并且高端(猎头)、中端和低端市场都涉及,因此,再做大众市场显得不大可能。应届生求职网,顾名思义,其定位就是应届生和在校大学生。虽然这块蛋糕不算特别大,但是随着近年来大学毕业生的逐渐增加,企业对大学生的需求也逐步增加,所以,很多大的招聘网站诸如中华英才网等纷纷进入该市场。但是它们面对的客户往往不是大学生,更多的是企业。它们向企业销售它们的校园招聘系统和服务。而应届生求职网则是反其道而行之,它针对的是应届生,提供了海量的信息和“一站式“的服务。

盈利模式:许多招聘网站的主要收入来源是企业招聘收费服务。企业在招聘网站上发布招聘信息是收费的,查找人才库也是收费的。企业在应届生求职网上发布信息是完全免费的,至于人才库我就不得而知了(估计也是收费的)。应届生求职网的来源多样化,主要有几类:
1.企业广告,其它网站也有,但不是主要收入来源。而应届生求职网提供多种形式广告,首页广告、文字广告链接(其它网站也有),还有内定文字广告等。
2.Google Ad
3.短信订阅:按公司收费的,这样更多的从求职者需求出发,而不像中华英才网按月收费。
4.中介费用:求职旅社、团购等中介服务费用。

由此,我们可以看到应届生求职网的商业模式更多是一种产品/服务差异战略。它提供了不同于传统在线招聘网站的价值主张:提供给大学生精确、全面和及时的信息,并且企业可以免费发布信息。当然,这也在一定程度上给其盈利带来困难。光靠广告,能有多少盈利,就不得而知了。

顺便说几句题外话,网站的体验实在不好。大量的广告降低了用户的使用舒适度,不过话又说回来了,免费使用就很好了,还那么多废话。还有就是产品功能不突出。我一般只关注信息,别的从来不看。要不是这次有兴趣看了看,我还真的不知道应届生有这么多服务。那么其他人又能注意到多少呢?当然,这里也衷心希望应届生求职网越办越好,让更多的人得益!

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Chinese Internet Firm Wants Voice in Microsoft/Yahoo Talks

February 20, 2008 · No Comments

Alibaba Group, in which Yahoo holds a 39 percent stake, wants a stronger voice in the talks between Microsoft and Yahoo to influence how shares would be transferred to any new owner.

By Kirby Chien,Reuters

BEIJING (Reuters) - Alibaba Group, the Chinese Internet firm, will seek a stronger voice for its management team in Microsoft’s talks to acquire Yahoo, Alibaba’s largest shareholder, a source said on Monday.

Based on the original agreement with Yahoo, which owns 39 percent of Alibaba, the Chinese company is in a very strong position to influence how shares would be transferred to any new owner, said the source, who is close to Alibaba.

The problem is a perception by Beijing authorities that an important Chinese firm could come under the control of Microsoft Corp, which has a reputation of using monopolistic tactics, said the source, who is familiar with a team of bankers and lawyers assembled by Alibaba to review its options.

Officials at Alibaba declined to comment.

Yahoo is the Chinese company’s largest single shareholder, but Alibaba’s management — led by founder Jack Ma — has retained effective control over its operations.

Microsoft on January 31 made an unsolicited offer for Yahoo — then valued at $44.6 billion — which Yahoo’s board has rejected.

Alibaba has not been involved, however, in any talks between Microsoft and Yahoo, but would get involved as negotiations get more serious, the source said.

Alibaba’s management is assuming the deal will eventually go through, he said.

Alibaba — which runs Yahoo’s China operation as well as other Web businesses, including Alibaba.com Ltd, the country’s largest listed Internet firm — would need assurances of management control if Microsoft’s bid were to succeed, he said.

Foreign control of large companies in key or strategic industries is a politically sensitive issue for Beijing, which has forced many prospective buyers to cut their intended stakes or simply delayed the application process indefinitely.

Arcelor Mittal, which had already agreed to buy 38.4 percent of Laiwu Steel Co., last year accepted a smaller stake and higher price to improve its chances of winning government approval.

Alibaba’s four-member board currently includes one Yahoo representative, Chief Executive Jerry Yang.

Another major shareholder in Alibaba is Japan’s Softbank Corp, which owns about 30 percent of the Chinese company. Softbank also partners with Yahoo in Yahoo Japan Corp.

($=7.16 yuan)

(Editing by Anne Marie Roantree)

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History of online travel

February 18, 2008 · No Comments

 

When travel moved online, consumers found it more efficient to book hotels and flights on travel agencies like Expedia. At this time, the website was just like the traditional agency where they provide almost the same service. As time is gone, this type of website provides more and more agency, even seems to replace the traditional travel agency. However, it’ll never come true, for one reason is that the traditional agency i.e. Hilton, CheapTickets and airlines has graduatelly move part of their business online so that people could also visit their website directly to book what they need. Nowadays, a typical travel site has the following categories:

  •  Flights
  •  Hotels
  •  Car Rentals
  •  Vacation Packages
  •  Cruises
  •  Deals and Destinations
  •  Maps
  •  Business Travel

Online travel agency (OTA) is mature today. You can find the largest online travel companies such as Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz are in this class. They own the largest share of the market.

Although the OTA bring a lot convenience to the life, new online travel business model is introduced because of the human nature- the demand of low price. This type of website allow you to bid for tickets and hotels, which might net you a lower price. (Both websites also have regular search features, where you just see the fares without bidding.) The catch is that you won’t know the airline, departure time or specific hotel until you actually buy the ticket, so this option is only for those who are willing to be very flexible. Therefore, the market must be smaller than OTA. Typical site such as: Priceline and Hotwire.

Then another problem came, there’re so much information on hotels, flights and other travel categories because of the boom of online travel, how to choose the best price? Vertical search engine on travel is introduced to the industry naturally. They go through the Internet and the best information for you but they only available in some categories such as fares and hotels and limit to some destinations. Kayak, Sidestep(acquired by Kayak in 2007) and Vayama are some examples. One worth checking out is Farecast.com. Unlike other travel search engine, Farecast.com can forecast the airfare and notice you if the fare will drop. Therefore, it could save your money through prediction.

Whatever OTA or travel search engine, they focus more on providing the information of the product, i.e. prices and amention, rather than the review of the product. In fact, they may notice the service of product such as hotels and adjust their ranking according to the consumers’ opinion one one aspect, but on the other aspect they’re born travel agency. It’s unworth paying too much energy on the review. In this situation, there came the review integrators such as TripAdvisor and Yahoo! Travel. The traffic of the integrators grows exactly quickly. Accoding to Alexa, TripAdvisor is No. 2 online travel site only second Expedia, even sometimes it surpass Expedia and become No. 1(Actually when I check the traffic on Feb. 19, it ranks 741, while Expedia 746). The opinion of TripAdvisor comes from the users, so what happen if the review is from travel experts? Oh, yes, it’s a guidebook. You can find Frommer and Fodor is in this class.

A lot of review site surge in nowadays so that people may be need a search engine focus on review. This may be the opportunity space. Kango, a startup in Palo Alto, claim their work on this aspect in process. Now they have the Beta version and could serch review through the type of cousumer’s requirment such as “family friendly” ect..

Internet plays more than the travel information broadcaster and booker. It’s a travel tools, too. Travel planning is another application. TripHub is one example. It’s co-founded by Microsoft and Expedia in 2005 and faces to the group trip planing. Social networking sites boomed in 2007, offering even more options. Boo.com has travel reviews gleaned from over 2,500 places, photographs and lots of insight into local restaurants and things to do. Besttripchoices.com is a good place to start if you’re not sure where you want to go. It gives you a personality test and then recommends places based on the results. VibeAgent.com mixes meta search capabilities with social networking, and users can even create custom travel groups if you want to fine-tune your travel menu.

Of course, the online travel is far more than I introduce. In the last ten years, online travel act more on booker and broadcaster. Therefore, it will provide more travel tool function in the future. This is the trend. The other trend is that the depth the information will increase. The site will analyze and min the information so that it’ll more convenient in the future. Farecast is just one application.

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Online travel is of great potential

February 17, 2008 · No Comments


After decades of growing, online travel still have a great potential in U.S. According to eMarketer, a leading marketing research company, U.S. online travel sales reached to $91.3 billion last year, and will continue to grow. The research company also estimates that the market will breakthrough $100 billion before 2010. The estimates from comScore and PhoCusWright indicate the same trend.

The sustained growth in number of tourist continues to support the development of online travel industry. According to a report by Travel Industry Association (TIA), domestic U.S. travel in the U.S. has increased 12.6 percent from 1995 to 2005,which reached to almost 2 billion of people trip[1]. International tourism arrival plays an important part to the travel and tourism industry, which contribute $80 billion. The data from United Nation World Tourism Organization shows that the international tourism arrival grows faster than domestic travel.

With the development of information technology, more and more people uses internet to research, plan and purchase the trip. Travel is one of the most mature B2C ecommerce categories, as measured by the percent of total industry sales generated online. In 2007, 49% of all travel-related reservations were booked on the web, versus 46% in 2006, according to J.D. Power and Associates. However, the online travel owns about 14% of the whole travel and tourism industry in 2006, which still have a great potential.

As the number of tourist is growing and more and more use web to plan their trip, there is a bright future in online travel. It will be boom in the next few years.

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