163.com
At 163.com users have the opportunity to see one of the web’s largest portals which received hundreds of millions of page views. It is also a Chinese entity, however people worldwide are participating by using the portal. NetEase incorporated are the proprietors of 163.com.
When exploring web portals and their design, purpose and strategy, one has to have unique advantages to reach the point at the peak of the market which has been achieved by this group.
What makes 163.com different than it’s rivals?
1. It is located in China, thus benefiting from a huge population
2. It has search engine capabilities on par with Google and Yahoo
3. 163.com serves as a gaming platform to the Chinese community
4. With more than 7000 employees and a market share of almost $8 Billion, this is an entity poised for astronomic acquisitions and growth.
The App business:
FanFan was launched by 163.com to serve the entertainment industry – it is huge with Chinese people but also has the potential to outgrow smaller brands such as qype and timeout in the west.
Future growth: It is estimated that if Google cannot enter China – and their market remains slightly restricted, that 163 will grow together with the Chinese population and internet users to become probably the largest portal on the web.
Would we say 163 is worth a visit? Certainly yes, if you need inspiration from more top businesses.