Q: If the portal hosts no advertisements, operation must heavily cost Baidu.
Li: Exactly. But we chose this method because we consider some time after entering a new market as a phase of prior investment. We believe users will understand how good Baidu is if only they visit and try Baidu portal no matter what we do to trigger them.
After that, users may start using Baidu as an "option for their second" search engine. That's our next goal. Anyhow, we consider our success is depending on how far we can offer opportunities to touch and try Baidu to many users.
Q: At the current moment, Lenovo may be the only Chinese company that has succeeded in Japan Haier, TCL and other Chinese companies haven't achieved name recognition yet. If Baidu succeeds here, it will be a milestone in the history of the development of overall Chinese economy, won't it?
Li: Maybe, but I consider Baidu has started from a slightly higher point. Baidu has been invested by US venture capitals from its beginning. Our five board members consist of only two Chinese, two Americans and one Japanese (Nobuyuki Idei). Based on its origin and institution, we consider Baidu as an internationalized company.
Q: Do you mean Baidu is already a multinational company that only locates its headquarters in Beijing?
Li: Not completely. That's because the most significant market for us is still China. It's just that Baidu has adopted the same framework as multinational companies in terms of corporate institution.
Nikkei Electronics Asia magazine is available each month free of charge to engineers, managers and other qualified readers.
Nikkei Electronics |
Nikkei Monozukuri |
Nikkei Microdevices |
Nikkei Automotive Technology |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The magazine for electronics designers and managers. | Design You Won't Regret - How to Reduce the Risk of Accidents | The most comprehensive technical journal for makers and users of LSIs and LCDs. | The comprehensive automotive technology magazine. |
Copyright © 1995-2009 Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
All editorial content and graphics on this Web site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the copyright owner.
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009