I found this small book to be entertaining, as well as quite informative. Xiaomi has become the world's third-largest mobile phone carrier, with products tailored to the Chinese and emerging Markets (and yes, it even outsells Samsung). Xiaomi (or "little rice") is more than a startup company that has risen to be a titan, but it's also representative of how mobile phones offer the kind of freedom and connectivity that autocratic countries fear.
It was really interesting to read about how this company started, and how they handle their business, especially in light of the fact that they are in China, a country notorious for clamping down on Internet access and the sharing of information. Shirky has an engaging writing style, and is very well versed in the ins-and-outs of the Chinese market. For example, on page 23, he writes, "China, remarkably, has managed to create an alternate path, building a country where information moves like people, in highly identified and constrained ways, with the government always reserving the right to refuse entry from elsewhere, along with the ability to apprehend rogue information locally." The fact that Xiaomi has been able to thrive is really quite a feat and a demonstration of the fascinating balance between the company and the Chinese government.
No comments:
Post a Comment