However, its quarterly growth has been sliding steadily in 2011, from 17% in Quarter 1 to 8% in Quarter 4. In Quarter 4 2010, it was growing at 21%.

2010 was the year when Facebook went on hyper-drive growth on users acquisition front in Asia. However, 2011 was the year when Facebook downshifted a gear or two. The decline is expected to continue as many Asian nations are reaching saturation level.

Total Facebook users in Asia increased from 168 million on October 1 2011 to 181 million on December 31 2011, a quarterly growth rate of 8%.

Indonesia continues to be the top Asian country on Facebook with 42 million users. But India will dethrone Indonesia soon. [UPDATE: India has surpassed Indonesia to become Facebook's biggest country in Asia.]

Facebook users in India has been growing by the double digits throughout 2011. On January 1 2011, India has 17 million Facebook users. By the end of the year, the country has 41 million users!

Other than India, eight other countries registered double digits growth throughout 2011, namely Thailand, Japan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Cambodia, Mongolia, Afghanistan, and Laos (see Table 3). However, only three countries are growing at rates higher in Quarter 4 compared to Quarter 3, namely Japan, South Korea and Mongolia. And South Korea registered the highest single quarter growth of 82% in Quarter 1 2011.

How accurate are these estimations? Read here.

Facebook in Asia: A Growth Story (2011) originally appeared on GreyReview.com on January 1, 2012.

It is not surprising that Google Sites (with YouTube as the key driver) is the top global online video destination, with 88.3 billion videos viewed during the month. Youku, China’s YouTube, is in distant second with 4.6 billion videos viewed and VEVO is third with 3.7 billion videos. Users of the world’s most popular social network, Facebook viewed a total of 2.6 billion videos on the platform.

Top 5 Global Video Destinations, by videos viewed

1. Google Sites: 88,278,970 videos viewed
2. Youku: 4,644,727
3. VEVO: 3,697,229
4. Facebook: 2,590,812
5. Dwango: 2,458,180

On average, each viewer in Canada watched the most videos. The country has the highest number of videos per viewer with 303 videos, followed by the US with 286 videos and the UK with 269 videos.

In Asia, the top three video-crazed nations are Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Viewers in Japan averaged the highest number of videos per viewer at 223 videos, followed by Hong Kong at 160 videos and Singapore at 153 videos.

Top Countries by Videos per Viewers

1. Canada: 303.7 videos
2. US: 286.3
3. UK: 268.6
4. Turkey: 250.7
5. Germany: 250.6
6. Japan: 222.7
7. France: 190.1
8. Spain: 178.6
9. Hong Kong: 160.0
10. Singapore: 153.2

Source: comScore Video Matrix

Image credit

Originally posted on Forbes.

Online Videos are modern day time suck too: Over 200 BILLION Videos Viewed Globally In A Month originally appeared on GreyReview.com on December 15, 2011.

Facebook now has over 800 million users worldwide, with 168 million are from Asia. In Quarter 3 this year, Facebook added 16.8 million new users in Asia (compared to 19.5 million in Quarter 2 2011). So far this year, the social network has added some 56 million new users; it started the year with 111 million Asian users. Its latest quarter-on-quarter growth rate is 11%. However, the rate has been somewhat slowing since end of 2010 – from 24% in Quarter 4 2010 to 17% Q1’11 to 15% Q2’11 to 11% Q3’11.

1. 57% of Facebook users in Asia can be found in the Southeast Asia region.
2. Internet users in India continue to embrace Facebook. As of end of Quarter 3 this year, India has a total of 36.4 million Facebook users, which is 4 million less than Indonesia. India will very soon surpass Indonesia to become the top Facebook country in Asia (and third-largest in the world).
3. Thailand surpassed Malaysia to become the 4th largest Facebook nation in Asia.
4. Users growth in Malaysia continues to stuck at single-digit. And Taiwan is challenging Malaysia for No. 5 in the list.
5. Facebook users in Japan continue to show impressive growth rate at 26%. In Quarter 2, users population grew by 33%. On January 01 this year, there were 1.8 million Facebook users in Japan. By the end of Quarter 3, total users jumped to 4.8 million.
6. Vietnamese Facebook users grew by 51% in Quarter 3 2011 and will soon replace Singapore in 11th rank.

How accurate are these estimations? Read here.

Facebook in Asia: Latest Stats on Total Users by Country [Quarter 3 2011] originally appeared on GreyReview.com on October 1, 2011.

Here are some photos of iPad 2 queues at some of the Apple reseller stores today in Kuala Lumpur / Klang Valley areas.

Machines, Suria KLCC

photo by Daniel Riveong on Twitter.

photo by Machines on Facebook.

Machines, Sunway Pyramid

photo by Ramakrishnan CN on Facebook.

photo by Andrew Lee on Twitter.

Machines, Mid-Valley

photo by Machines on Facebook.

photo by Lowyat.NET on Twitter.

photo by Sharine L. on Twitter.

Machines, Lot 10

photo by YH Lim.

Switch, The Mines

photo by Muhammad Hijazi on Twitter.

Macstudio, Berjaya Times Square

photo by YH Lim.

Mac City, 1Utama

photo by Mei Ng on Facebook.

Macstudio, Low Yat Plaza

photo by YH Lim.

iPad 2 Sold Out notices

photo by YH Lim.

iPad 2 swarms in Malaysia: Launch Day [Photos] originally appeared on GreyReview.com on April 29, 2011.

LATEST: IT’S OFFICIAL. Apple just announced iPad 2 launch dates – Japan (Thursday April 28) ; Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE (Friday April 29).

Back in March 2011, Apple Inc. announced that iPad 2  will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April. April is now coming to the end and the anticipation for the iPad 2 here in Malaysia is reaching fever pitch. (The original iPad was launched in Malaysia in November 2010).

Grace Chng, the Digital Life editor for Singapore’s The Straits Time speculated in her blog that the iPad 2 will be released in Singapore on April 29th, taking into account Apple’s penchant for choosing Fridays to kick off sales of new iPhone models and the original iPad.  Meanwhile, Techtree reported that Apple will launch the iPad 2 in India later this week, with rumor that the device will be available in Japan on the 28th.

Will Malaysia be in the list of additional countries which will be getting the iPad 2 this week? Indications from a discussion on the popular Lowyat forum seem positive.

At around 7pm this evening, Apple Premium Reseller Machines this image on its Facebook Page with a caption: work in progress. The image showing workers getting ready queue rope. Earlier, it tweeted: Stay tuned for an IMPORTANT announcement tonight.

Can it really be for iPad 2 OR it is for the launch of white iPhone 4? According to this article, white iPhone 4 will launch today, with sources informed that numerous stores and even Best Buy have announced that they will start selling the White iPhone 4 from April 27. PC Magazine also reported the impending launch of white iPhone 4 on April 27 2011.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE 1: It’s confirmed, iPad 2 is coming to Malaysia.

CUPERTINO, California—April 27, 2011—Apple® today announced that iPad® 2, the second-generation of its breakthrough post-PC device, will arrive in Japan on Thursday, April 28 and Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and eight additional countries on Friday, April 29. iPad 2 will be available at Apple retail stores at 9 a.m. local time, select Apple Authorized Resellers, and online through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com) beginning at 1 a.m. Additionally, iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in China beginning Friday, May 6.

iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime® and Photo Booth®, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life* that users have come to expect.

Pricing & Availability
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in Japan on April 28 and Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE on April 29 for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in China on May 6, and further international availability will be announced at a later date.

UPDATE 2: Apple said white iPhone 4 will be available beginning tomorrow in 28 countries.

CUPERTINO, California—April 27, 2011—Apple® today announced that the white iPhone® 4 will be available beginning tomorrow. White iPhone 4 models will be available from Apple’s online store (www.apple.com), at Apple’s retail stores, AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

“The white iPhone 4 has finally arrived and it’s beautiful,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We appreciate everyone who has waited patiently while we’ve worked to get every detail right.”

iPhone 4 is the most innovative phone in the world, featuring Apple’s stunning Retina™ display, the highest resolution display ever built into a phone resulting in super crisp text, images and video, and FaceTime®, which makes video calling a reality.

Pricing & Availability
White models of iPhone 4 will be available in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Macau, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, UK and the US, beginning Thursday, April 28 and in many more countries around the world soon. White iPhone 4 will be available for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model with a new two year agreement through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), at Apple’s retail stores, AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

iPad 2 or white iPhone 4, which one is launching in Malaysia? originally appeared on GreyReview.com on April 27, 2011.

Some observations:

• A total of 19 Asian countries in the 2010-2011 NRI list, out of 138 countries worldwide.
• 5 Asian countries are in the top 20 of this year’s NRI list – Singapore (2nd), Taiwan (5), South Korea (10), Hong Kong (12), and Japan (19).
• Singapore is the most networked nation in Asia. The Southeast Asian city-state ranked second in the world, behind Sweden.
• Singapore is also the only Asian country ranked higher than the United States (no. 5 worldwide).
• Malaysia ranked first among Upper-middle Income group of countries. Malaysia is also the only upper-middle income country in the top 30 overall. The country’s score increased from 4.65 in 2010 to 4.74 in 2011.
• According to the report, Malaysia “places 10th for ICT readiness of the society as a whole. Among the main stakeholders, the government is showing the way. ICT plays a critical role in its Wawasan 2020 (Vision 2020) plan for Malaysia to become high-income economy by 2020″ (p. 24; WEF, 2011).
• Indonesia leaped 14 places to 53 this year, with improvements across the three NRI components.

According to the WEF report, the underlying principles of the Networked Readiness Index are:

• An ICT-conducive environment is a key precondition of network readiness.
• Networked readiness requires a society-wide effort.
• ICT readiness leads to ICT usage and increased impact.

The Index comprises to three subindexes, namely:

1. Environment subindex:
   • Market environment
   • Political & regulatory environment
   • Infrastructure environment
2. Readiness subindex:
   • Individual readiness
   • Business readiness
   • Government readiness
3. Usage subindex:
   • Individual usage
   • Business usage
   • Government usage

The final NRI score is a simple average of the three composing subindex scores, while each subindex’s score is a simple average of those of the composing pillars. In doing this, we assume that all Index components give a similar contribution to national networked readiness. (p. 6, WEF, 2011)

The Global Information Technology Report 2010 – 2011: Transformation 2.0 (Full report)

2011 Networked Readiness Index by World Economic Forum: How Networked is Asia? originally appeared on GreyReview.com on April 13, 2011.

This is the latest edition of Facebook in Asia series. The followings are some interesting observations of Facebook growth in Asia in the first three months of 2011:

• The latest estimated number of Facebook users in Asia: 131.3 million.
• Total Facebook users grew by 17.3% in the Quarter 1 2011, which is slightly less than the 21.4% in the previous quarter (Quarter 4 2010).
• Indonesia continues to lead with 35.2 million users. Second-placed India with 23 million, followed by Philippines (22.4 million), Malaysia (10.1 million) and Taiwan (9.1 million)
• India grew by 35.7% in the first three months of 2011 and overtook the Philippines as the Asian nation with the second largest Facebook users. India is poised to overtake leader Indonesia by end of 2011, IF the nation continues with double-digit growth rates in the next three quarters.
• South Korea leapfrogged Singapore, Pakistan and Hong Kong to 7th place. The country’s Facebook users grew by a whopping 82% in Quarter 1 of 2011. Facebook users in South Korea are growing at blistering pace since Quarter 2 2010 (grew by 66% in Quarter 2 2010).
• Malaysia exceeds the 10 million users mark.
• The Japanese people are fast embracing Facebook. On October 1 2010, Japan has 1.4 million Facebook users. Six months later, the Land of the Rising Sun has over 2.8 million users. Of course, this is still pale in comparison to the 21 million users of Mixi, Japan’s home-grown social network.
• Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, and Macau are showing decline in estimated total Facebook users between January 01 2011 and April 01 2011. As with other countries, estimated Facebook users figures were extracted at the specified dates. So, I’m unsure why these countries are showing the declines.

Facebook in Asia, Estimated Total Users by Country – Quarter 1 2011

Latest Estimates for Facebook Users by Country – Asia (Quarter 1 2011) originally appeared on GreyReview.com on April 5, 2011.

With the partnership, Zynga leverages MOL’s vast network of physical and online channels to make available the Zynga Game Cards to social gamers across Asia:

• Popular retail chains such as 7-Eleven stores in Singapore and Malaysia, and Singapore’s Comic Connections;
• MOL affiliated cybercafés such as India’s Sify Cybercafes, Philippine’s Netopia Internet Cafes and Thailand’s Fun Loader Cybercafes;
• Electronic payment kiosks, online channels, banking and telco partners such as Malaysia’s Maybank2u, Singapore’s GXCredits and Indonesia’s Gudang Voucher.

MOL will make Zynga Game Cards available in values of US$2, US$5 and US$10. MOL customers can also convert their MOLPoints virtual currency into Zynga Game Cards.

This announcement follows the recent launch of Zynga’s newest game phenomenon, CityVille in Indonesian language marking its first game to be offered in the language and further signifying its dedication to the Asian region.

Prior to this announcement, Zynga Game Cards are already available in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Zynga also recently announced the launch of its prepaid cards in Latin America.

Zynga Game Cards Now Available in Six Asian Countries originally appeared on GreyReview.com on March 1, 2011.

In November 2010, Indonesia overtook the UK to become the world’s second largest market for Facebook (behind the United States.) In Quarter 4 2010, over 5 million new users from world’s fourth most populous nation joined Facebook. Indonesia also widened its gap with second-place Philippines over the last 3 months. In November 01 2010, the gap between Indonesia and second-place Philippines was 11,901,900 users. Now, the gap is 13,227,560.

Today, there are over 32 million Indonesians using Facebook. Philippines is behind Indonesia, with over 18 million, followed by India (16.9 million), Malaysia (9.5 million) and Taiwan (8.7 million).

Facebook Population in Asia
Total Users (as of January 01 2011 and October 01 2010) and Total New Users

In Quarter 4 2010, Facebook users in South Korea grew by 60%. South Korea is poised to overtake Singapore to rank 9th in the Facebook in Asia list. Second fastest growing Asian nation on Facebook is Cambodia at 51%, followed by Afghanistan (45%), Mongolia (44%) and Vietnam (42%). All countries experienced double-digit growth in Q4 2010, except Singapore (7.2%) and Macau (4.2%).

Top 10 Facebook Users Growth Rate in Asia
Between October 01 2010 and January 01 2011

Over 111 million Facebook users in Asia on New Year’s Day; Slowing growth, Indonesia widens lead and South Korea on hyper-growth originally appeared on GreyReview.com on January 1, 2011.

Indonesia continues to top the Facebook Population in Asia list with 29.8 million users. Although the country is fast approaching the 30 million user mark, the most populous Southeast Asian nation continues to show impressive 12.2% growth rate (the 10th highest among the Asian nations). During the month of October 2010, Indonesia registered the highest increase of % of Total Facebook Population in Asia, an increase of 0.3 percentage point, from 28.9% to 29.2% (India increased by 0.2 percentage point and Japan with 0.1).

Cambodia registered the highest growth rate at 24.6%, followed by Afghanistan (23.3%), Mongolia (19.7%), Japan (19.6%) and South Korea (18.9%). And Bangladesh joined the 1-million users group in October 2010. As of now, there are a total of 13 countries in Asia with over a million Facebook users.

Facebook Population in Asia
Total Users (as of October 01 2010 and November 01 2010) and % Month-on-Month Growth

(Image credits: Facebook Login Hut and Asia Maps)

Facebook exceeds 100 million users in Asia; added 10 million users in October 2010 originally appeared on GreyReview.com on November 3, 2010.

This year, a total of 180 nominations from 16 member economies for 16 categories. “From a small member base of 5 countries in the first International APICTA Awards, we have now grown to include 17 nations across the Asia-Pacific region, most recently adding Taiwan to our ranks,” said Sutee Satanasathapon, Chairman of APICTA. The 16 member economies of APICTA are Australia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Since it started in 2001, the awards programme has recognized and rewarded the innovation of numerous ICT companies across the Asia-Pacific region. Past APICTA winners have contributed to the regional ICT Industry with two such examples being:

• CyberPlanet Interactive Co. Ltd., 2004 Winner for Media and Entertainment, has become a public-listed company and expanded into China and Japan to become the largest console game developer in South East Asia
• Les’ Copaque, 2007 Winner for Best Start-up Company, is now rated as one of Malaysia’s foremost production and animation houses with its flagship animation series, Upin & Ipin with broadcast in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Malaysia won 4 Awards

There are a total of 29 Malaysian finalists for this year’s Awards, consisting of 24 companies, 3 universities and 2 schools. Winners are judged based on these criteria:

• Uniqueness
• Market potential / value for public
• Functionalities and features
• Quality and application of technology
• Presentation

In this year’s International APICTA Awards, a total of 4 Malaysian entries winning the following categories – Research and Development, Tourism and Hospitality, E-Learning, and E-Government. Singapore-based Ephone International Pte Ltd clinched two awards – Best E-Health and Best Start-up Company – for its product, EPI Life. Other notable winners are IP Payments Account Receivable Solution from Australia, which won the Financial Industry Applications category and Thai company, Geomove Co. Ltd. for their Sensor Service Grid application, which won the Tools & Infrastructure category.

Here’s the full list of winners:
Best of Research and Development: nuRF Wireless Sensor Network and Smart Wireless System – Free Alliance (Malaysia)

Best of Tourism and Hospitality: GDX Guest Services Management – FCS Computer Systems (Malaysia)

Best of E-Learning: Jayonik Convoy Dynamic Driving Simulator System – Jayonik MSC Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)

Best of e-Government: eKasih National Databank on Poverty – Implementation Coordination Unit, Prime Minister’s Department (Malaysia)

Best of Start-Up Companies / Best of e-Health: EPI Life – Ephone International Pte Ltd (Singapore)

Best of Financial Industry Application: IP Payments Account Receivables Solution – IP Payments Pty Ltd (Australia)

Best of Tools and Infrastructure: Sensor Service GRID – Geomove Co. Ltd (Thailand)

Best of New Media and Entertainment: Scoreless Music Suite – Scoreless Music Pte Ltd (Singapore)

Best of Communications: Smoov.me – Smoov Pte Ltd (Singapore)

Best of Security Application: iMatch Mobile – PCS Security Pte Ltd (Singapore)

Best of E-Inclusion and E-Community: Brain Fitness Gymnasium for the Ederly – The Hong Kong Society for the Aged (Hong Kong)

Best of E-Logistics and Supply Chain Management: NEOtrace – NEO Invention Co. Ltd. (Thailand)

Best of Industrial Application: Java Human Machine Interface Engine – Thales Australia (Australia)

Best of Secondary Student Project: My mom’s mobile phone as my sister’s tutor – Salman Al Fansi Full Day School (Indonesia)

Best of Tertiary Student Projects: Stereoscopic video generation from Monoscopic Video – City University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)

APICTA Lifetime ICT Award

The evening also saw former Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad received a Lifetime ICT Achievement Award, for his contribution to the ICT industry. The MSC Malaysia is the brainchild of the Tun Mahathir.

Winners at the 10th International Asia Pacific ICT Awards (APICTA) 2010 originally appeared on GreyReview.com on October 17, 2010.