Faced by a saturated domestic market, Japan’s mobile brands are targeting markets overseas. Will it work? Read more to find out.

Sony Ericsson reported a 97% fall in profits in the second quarter. Find out more as Gregory Birge and Nicholas Taleb give their analysis on the company.

Set up Philips CMST LAPS team, handling digital operations for 30 countries worldwide

Friendster, one of the world’s first social networks, is looking for a buyer, with its strength in Southeast Asia as a key selling point. Is it worth the investment? 4 analysts give their opinions on the subject.

Digital Solutions Innovations in Asia

Augmented Reality is no longer just science fiction, but fast becoming marketing’s latest buzz phrase. What exactly is Augmented Reality, and what is its potential? Read more to see what it means for both advertisers and digital agencies.

ICQ used to be very popular among Singaporeans, but was gradually replaced by MSN. In an interview, Gregory Birge, managing director of F5DIGITAL Consulting, states that ICQ was an excellent software but it was overloaded with unnecessary features, a burden for users and computers. This was the period when broadband was yet to be widespread. Modem was the norm and the slow speed of the Internet affected the smooth operation of software. In addition, the ‘heavy’ software weighed down the entire computer system. At the same time, ICQ also faced a serious issue on spam and copyrights.

ICQ is often used for distribution and unwanted advertisements. The terms of services implies that ICQ may publish, distribute etc. any messages sent through the system that could be meant to be private. All these factors weakened its competitive advantage, leading consumers to switch to MSN. The most distinct advantage of MSN lies in the integration between operating system (OS), Internet Explorer (browser) and other related Microsoft products. When Windows XP was launched in 2001, Windows Messenger, a simplified version of MSN, was incorporated. This helped to contribute to the high usage rate of MSN. There were only 2.5 million users during the first two months of MSN launch.
Today, 10 years later, users have increased to 330 million with almost 10 billion of instant message (IM) being sent daily.

Critics note that the electronics giant no longer has a clear identity – can the once iconic electronics firm make its mark in emerging economies? Read more to see what analysts have to say.

Online campaigns are ubiquitous these days. Online job portals, blog shops and even government agencies have hopped onto the bandwagon. More and more brands are trying to catch up to online marketing channels. Read more to find out how not to misuse these tools, and begin with the desired goal and the end in mind.

Hitachi suffers a fall in demand for its goods, leading to its recent decline. Gregory Birge gives a detailed diagnosis on the situation.

Online Gift System Marketing Requirement Document for Philips BU AVM

The barcodes once touted as the future of mobile are not taking off outside Japan. Find out why.

The launch of the Comes With Music platform in the region looks certain to present a challenge to other mobile brands. Read more to see how analysts feel about the move.

Gregory Birge talks about Web 2.0, the era of consumer engagement, and of the benefits of initiatives such as 1:1 Marketing and TransPromo.