LOWDOWN ON DEVELOPERS
Gloria Lin, VP of product management of Flipboard Inc, a US software developer
Flipboard collates the content of social media and other websites and presents it all in a magazine format. The app lets people see everything from world news to life’s great moments, all in one place.
In 2010, it was iPad App of the Year and we’ve found that many Chinese fans use Flipboard as their premium access point for news. I think that’s because it helps you discover awesome content that you might not otherwise see. We’re really happy to see people who just love our app. They tell us they use it while commuting, relaxing on the beach, enjoying their morning coffee, before they go to bed, and even in the bathtub!
Chen Ziming, VP of R&D at the app developer Wochacha Information Technology (Shanghai) Co
The basic design concept is to provide users with up-to-date information about prices and quality. We’ve discovered that people have different shopping behaviors and that demand is rising for high-quality, but low-priced goods.
Wochacha includes the barcodes for more than 20 million goods, covering an extended range of supermarkets, shopping malls, online stores and outlets for books, audio, video, cosmetics, alcohol, tobacco and medicine. We have special data-collection team that aims to provide information on prices and quality and also help users to save money.
By the end of July, our customer numbers had reached 40 million, and as smartphones become more popular and affordable, the number will increase steadily.
Evgeny Kosolapov, CEO of I-Free Asia, Russia’s largest mobile Internet company
Apps are changing user behavior and people’s way of living. We have a team of 600 and will next focus on useful applications, such as personal assistance, air tickets and shopping via the phone. We plan to develop these apps for the global market. But in China, they’ll be localized and those with the most potential will be translated into Chinese.
I think that Chinese app-design companies have done very well so far, and the potential market is huge. My favorite Chinese app is Dazhong Dianping, which contains restaurant reviews and recommendations written by diners.