“Do you Eyah？！”
Visitors were amused when they saw the advertisement at the 5th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Exhibition held in Melbourne last week. Under the poster, several young Netpreneurs were busy promoting Eyah.com that they claimed to be the largest Chinese portal site in the Southern Hemisphere.
Despite scepticism, founder Trent Huang was no-nonsensical and confident about his company. With a staff of more than 30 working in Sydney and Melbourne, Eyah.com is a popular Chinese Website invested by local and foreign banks. And more investors are tearing down his door, he said. Of course, Eyah.com is working toward an IPO, probably in Hong Kong in the first half of next year.
The playful “eyah” didn't just come off the top of Huang's head. After many long discussions with his partners, Huang said, he had to ask a few Cathay Pacific stewardesses during an overseas trip to help decide upon the company 's name.
Who will “eyah” his Website？
Citing official statistics, Huang said that there are now almost 100,000 Chinese Web users in Australia. Large cities in Australia have increasingly attracted more Chinese immigrants. In some downtown streets in Melbourne, Chinese students speaking Cantonese or even the Beijing dialect rubbed shoulders with locals. Australian authorities also encourage immigrants to use their mother tongue.
And Huang is taking Eyah.com a step beyond providing information on immigration and education about Australia. The company has set its eyes on the Internet markets in Mainland China and Hong Kong.
It looks like he is attempting the impossible. However, if people know what's happening on the Australian bourse, they may believe that Eyah.com is spinning a good story about itself.
Recently, the local media and stock market have been buzzing with rumours that Hong Kong-based China.com was bidding for LibertyOne, a major Australian Web developer that has been seeking mergers and alliances with Hong Kong Internet companies.
The Chinese-language China.com, one of the high-fliers on the Nasdaq, is a well-known Internet stock in Australia. The Australian, an influential newspaper in the country, commented that in e-commerce, the government-backed China.com has a significant advantage because it is in Chinese language and China has banned foreigners from providing Internet services in the world's most populous country.
Thanks to the industry buzz of a takeover by China.com, LibertyOne's shares nearly doubled in September. Analysts said that deal would represent the “finest flowering ” of the cyber deal in Australia. And the merger is a natural step from many Internet companies in Australia looking to make money out of the Internet.
Eyah.com certainly knows its selling points. Huang said his company has already found a Chinese government agency as its partner. It is opening an office in Beijing for a foray into the China market.
In the eyes of industry veterans, Eyah.com still needs time to cobble together the right combinations of content and services. However, Huang can stand up to founders of major Chinese portal sites in the world when it comes to drive and ambition. A local stock analyst remarked： “ Only twentysomethings like Huang have such courage.”
Huang and his financial advisers were quite puzzled to learn that there is no plan for Zaobao.com to go public when everybody else is getting in. Huang suggested a strategic alliance between Zaobao Online and Eyah.com, saying such cooperation would help him spin an even better tale before investors.
Asked about the staff's confidence in the future of Eyah.com, Jessica, its marketing manager, replied：“ If not for the company, I would have gone home long ago. My former boss had already promised to pay 20,000 yuan （S$4,000） a month.” She came from Beijing and had completed her MBA study in Melbourne.
Wow, that's a lot of money, in China. But Net nerds like Jessica can turn down such an offer.
（The author is editor of Zaobao Online ）
澳洲也興華文網(wǎng)絡(luò)熱
“你咿呀嗎？！”
10月初,在澳洲墨爾本世界華商大會(huì)上,幾個(gè)年輕人在展覽區(qū)入口處亮出這個(gè)廣告標(biāo)語。參觀者知道他們是在宣傳號(hào)稱南半球的華文網(wǎng)站“咿呀。com”（www.eyah.com）后,不禁啞然失笑……
不過,創(chuàng)辦人黃川在介紹“咿呀。com”的時(shí)候,卻滿是嚴(yán)肅和自信。“咿呀。com”現(xiàn)已是澳洲的綜合性華文網(wǎng)站,有三十多人,多是中國(guó)在澳洲的留學(xué)生。公司在墨爾本和悉尼皆有辦事處,投資者皆是“鬼佬”,為當(dāng)?shù)睾蛧?guó)際投資銀行。當(dāng)然,“咿呀。com”少不了掛牌計(jì)劃,可能會(huì)在明年上半年到香港上市。
讓眾人發(fā)笑的“咿呀”,也不是隨隨便便命名的,而是頗費(fèi)了大家的一番心思。黃川說,最后,他是在旅行途中,請(qǐng)幾位國(guó)泰空姐討論決定“咿呀”名稱的。
那么,他們要吸引誰來“咿呀”呢？
黃川引用澳洲官方統(tǒng)計(jì)說,澳洲現(xiàn)有華文網(wǎng)絡(luò)用戶近十萬人。澳洲大城市華人移民眾多,是有目共睹的事實(shí)。在墨爾本城北街道,可以看到成群結(jié)伙的講廣東話甚至是北京土語的男女學(xué)生。澳洲地方政府也鼓勵(lì)移民使用母語。
而且, 黃川說,“咿呀。com”不光提供澳洲移民、求學(xué)方面的資訊,更瞄準(zhǔn)中國(guó)大陸、香港等華文網(wǎng)上市場(chǎng)。
從南半球打華人市場(chǎng)和大中國(guó)市場(chǎng),聽起來有些不可思議,但如考察一下目前澳洲網(wǎng)絡(luò)市場(chǎng)的動(dòng)向,卻不能不承認(rèn),“咿呀。com”找到了上好的炒作題材。
筆者在墨爾本的幾天,正好是當(dāng)?shù)孛襟w、股票市場(chǎng)流傳China.com（中華網(wǎng)）將收購澳LibertyOne網(wǎng)站的消息的時(shí)候。
LibertyOne作為當(dāng)?shù)剌^大的網(wǎng)絡(luò)商,近來一直在謀求和香港的網(wǎng)絡(luò)公司結(jié)盟。
以中文為主的中華網(wǎng)因今年在美國(guó)成功上市,而在澳洲享有盛譽(yù)。當(dāng)?shù)仡H有影響的《澳洲人》報(bào)分析說,中華網(wǎng)面向世界人口最多的中國(guó)市場(chǎng),而中國(guó)又禁止外國(guó)網(wǎng)絡(luò)商進(jìn)入,因此,受中國(guó)政府支持的中華網(wǎng)在電子商業(yè)方面將有特別的優(yōu)勢(shì)。
由于市場(chǎng)傳言中華網(wǎng)收購,在澳洲掛牌的LibertyOne股價(jià)九月份幾乎翻倍?！栋闹奕恕穲?bào)稱,中華網(wǎng)收購LibertyOne,將是澳洲網(wǎng)絡(luò)業(yè)有史以來的一樁買賣,使得當(dāng)?shù)乇姸嗑W(wǎng)站第一次實(shí)實(shí)在在看到了賺錢的希望。
“咿呀。com”當(dāng)然知道如何發(fā)揚(yáng)光大自己的賣點(diǎn)。黃川稱,已在中國(guó)找到政府合作伙伴,將在北京開設(shè)辦事處,開始進(jìn)軍中國(guó)市場(chǎng)。
客觀地講,現(xiàn)在的“咿呀。com”,內(nèi)容和服務(wù)都顯粗糙,需要改進(jìn)。但“咿呀”人的沖勁和雄心卻一點(diǎn)都不亞于我所見到的當(dāng)今幾個(gè)主要華文網(wǎng)站的。當(dāng)?shù)匾还善狈治鰡T對(duì)我笑指黃川說：“只有這樣20多歲的人才有如此的勇氣。”
他們對(duì)早報(bào)。com至今沒有上市的計(jì)劃深感不解。黃川提議“咿呀。com”和《聯(lián)合早報(bào)》電子版合作?？上攵?早報(bào)電子版以今日的實(shí)力,將給他在爭(zhēng)取投資者信心時(shí),增加一個(gè)大大的炒作籌碼。
問黃川手下的員工,對(duì)“咿呀。com”的前途有沒有信心。一位從北京來、剛獲本地MBA學(xué)位的女孩子說,當(dāng)然有啦,本來我是準(zhǔn)備回去的,以前的老板都答應(yīng)月付兩萬元人民幣了。
在澳洲的幾日所見所聞,終使我有“唉呀”的驚奇感嘆了。
（作者是早報(bào)電子版主編）
Visitors were amused when they saw the advertisement at the 5th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Exhibition held in Melbourne last week. Under the poster, several young Netpreneurs were busy promoting Eyah.com that they claimed to be the largest Chinese portal site in the Southern Hemisphere.
Despite scepticism, founder Trent Huang was no-nonsensical and confident about his company. With a staff of more than 30 working in Sydney and Melbourne, Eyah.com is a popular Chinese Website invested by local and foreign banks. And more investors are tearing down his door, he said. Of course, Eyah.com is working toward an IPO, probably in Hong Kong in the first half of next year.
The playful “eyah” didn't just come off the top of Huang's head. After many long discussions with his partners, Huang said, he had to ask a few Cathay Pacific stewardesses during an overseas trip to help decide upon the company 's name.
Who will “eyah” his Website？
Citing official statistics, Huang said that there are now almost 100,000 Chinese Web users in Australia. Large cities in Australia have increasingly attracted more Chinese immigrants. In some downtown streets in Melbourne, Chinese students speaking Cantonese or even the Beijing dialect rubbed shoulders with locals. Australian authorities also encourage immigrants to use their mother tongue.
And Huang is taking Eyah.com a step beyond providing information on immigration and education about Australia. The company has set its eyes on the Internet markets in Mainland China and Hong Kong.
It looks like he is attempting the impossible. However, if people know what's happening on the Australian bourse, they may believe that Eyah.com is spinning a good story about itself.
Recently, the local media and stock market have been buzzing with rumours that Hong Kong-based China.com was bidding for LibertyOne, a major Australian Web developer that has been seeking mergers and alliances with Hong Kong Internet companies.
The Chinese-language China.com, one of the high-fliers on the Nasdaq, is a well-known Internet stock in Australia. The Australian, an influential newspaper in the country, commented that in e-commerce, the government-backed China.com has a significant advantage because it is in Chinese language and China has banned foreigners from providing Internet services in the world's most populous country.
Thanks to the industry buzz of a takeover by China.com, LibertyOne's shares nearly doubled in September. Analysts said that deal would represent the “finest flowering ” of the cyber deal in Australia. And the merger is a natural step from many Internet companies in Australia looking to make money out of the Internet.
Eyah.com certainly knows its selling points. Huang said his company has already found a Chinese government agency as its partner. It is opening an office in Beijing for a foray into the China market.
In the eyes of industry veterans, Eyah.com still needs time to cobble together the right combinations of content and services. However, Huang can stand up to founders of major Chinese portal sites in the world when it comes to drive and ambition. A local stock analyst remarked： “ Only twentysomethings like Huang have such courage.”
Huang and his financial advisers were quite puzzled to learn that there is no plan for Zaobao.com to go public when everybody else is getting in. Huang suggested a strategic alliance between Zaobao Online and Eyah.com, saying such cooperation would help him spin an even better tale before investors.
Asked about the staff's confidence in the future of Eyah.com, Jessica, its marketing manager, replied：“ If not for the company, I would have gone home long ago. My former boss had already promised to pay 20,000 yuan （S$4,000） a month.” She came from Beijing and had completed her MBA study in Melbourne.
Wow, that's a lot of money, in China. But Net nerds like Jessica can turn down such an offer.
（The author is editor of Zaobao Online ）
澳洲也興華文網(wǎng)絡(luò)熱
“你咿呀嗎？！”
10月初,在澳洲墨爾本世界華商大會(huì)上,幾個(gè)年輕人在展覽區(qū)入口處亮出這個(gè)廣告標(biāo)語。參觀者知道他們是在宣傳號(hào)稱南半球的華文網(wǎng)站“咿呀。com”（www.eyah.com）后,不禁啞然失笑……
不過,創(chuàng)辦人黃川在介紹“咿呀。com”的時(shí)候,卻滿是嚴(yán)肅和自信。“咿呀。com”現(xiàn)已是澳洲的綜合性華文網(wǎng)站,有三十多人,多是中國(guó)在澳洲的留學(xué)生。公司在墨爾本和悉尼皆有辦事處,投資者皆是“鬼佬”,為當(dāng)?shù)睾蛧?guó)際投資銀行。當(dāng)然,“咿呀。com”少不了掛牌計(jì)劃,可能會(huì)在明年上半年到香港上市。
讓眾人發(fā)笑的“咿呀”,也不是隨隨便便命名的,而是頗費(fèi)了大家的一番心思。黃川說,最后,他是在旅行途中,請(qǐng)幾位國(guó)泰空姐討論決定“咿呀”名稱的。
那么,他們要吸引誰來“咿呀”呢？
黃川引用澳洲官方統(tǒng)計(jì)說,澳洲現(xiàn)有華文網(wǎng)絡(luò)用戶近十萬人。澳洲大城市華人移民眾多,是有目共睹的事實(shí)。在墨爾本城北街道,可以看到成群結(jié)伙的講廣東話甚至是北京土語的男女學(xué)生。澳洲地方政府也鼓勵(lì)移民使用母語。
而且, 黃川說,“咿呀。com”不光提供澳洲移民、求學(xué)方面的資訊,更瞄準(zhǔn)中國(guó)大陸、香港等華文網(wǎng)上市場(chǎng)。
從南半球打華人市場(chǎng)和大中國(guó)市場(chǎng),聽起來有些不可思議,但如考察一下目前澳洲網(wǎng)絡(luò)市場(chǎng)的動(dòng)向,卻不能不承認(rèn),“咿呀。com”找到了上好的炒作題材。
筆者在墨爾本的幾天,正好是當(dāng)?shù)孛襟w、股票市場(chǎng)流傳China.com（中華網(wǎng)）將收購澳LibertyOne網(wǎng)站的消息的時(shí)候。
LibertyOne作為當(dāng)?shù)剌^大的網(wǎng)絡(luò)商,近來一直在謀求和香港的網(wǎng)絡(luò)公司結(jié)盟。
以中文為主的中華網(wǎng)因今年在美國(guó)成功上市,而在澳洲享有盛譽(yù)。當(dāng)?shù)仡H有影響的《澳洲人》報(bào)分析說,中華網(wǎng)面向世界人口最多的中國(guó)市場(chǎng),而中國(guó)又禁止外國(guó)網(wǎng)絡(luò)商進(jìn)入,因此,受中國(guó)政府支持的中華網(wǎng)在電子商業(yè)方面將有特別的優(yōu)勢(shì)。
由于市場(chǎng)傳言中華網(wǎng)收購,在澳洲掛牌的LibertyOne股價(jià)九月份幾乎翻倍?！栋闹奕恕穲?bào)稱,中華網(wǎng)收購LibertyOne,將是澳洲網(wǎng)絡(luò)業(yè)有史以來的一樁買賣,使得當(dāng)?shù)乇姸嗑W(wǎng)站第一次實(shí)實(shí)在在看到了賺錢的希望。
“咿呀。com”當(dāng)然知道如何發(fā)揚(yáng)光大自己的賣點(diǎn)。黃川稱,已在中國(guó)找到政府合作伙伴,將在北京開設(shè)辦事處,開始進(jìn)軍中國(guó)市場(chǎng)。
客觀地講,現(xiàn)在的“咿呀。com”,內(nèi)容和服務(wù)都顯粗糙,需要改進(jìn)。但“咿呀”人的沖勁和雄心卻一點(diǎn)都不亞于我所見到的當(dāng)今幾個(gè)主要華文網(wǎng)站的。當(dāng)?shù)匾还善狈治鰡T對(duì)我笑指黃川說：“只有這樣20多歲的人才有如此的勇氣。”
他們對(duì)早報(bào)。com至今沒有上市的計(jì)劃深感不解。黃川提議“咿呀。com”和《聯(lián)合早報(bào)》電子版合作?？上攵?早報(bào)電子版以今日的實(shí)力,將給他在爭(zhēng)取投資者信心時(shí),增加一個(gè)大大的炒作籌碼。
問黃川手下的員工,對(duì)“咿呀。com”的前途有沒有信心。一位從北京來、剛獲本地MBA學(xué)位的女孩子說,當(dāng)然有啦,本來我是準(zhǔn)備回去的,以前的老板都答應(yīng)月付兩萬元人民幣了。
在澳洲的幾日所見所聞,終使我有“唉呀”的驚奇感嘆了。
（作者是早報(bào)電子版主編）