Sony former chairman of the well extension of the join Baidu sit down to see the insider

When Baidu announced its entry into the Japanese market, everyone was sweating for Li, and a vice-president for American multinationals even said to Robin Li, "You have chosen one of the hardest markets in the world." And before that, no Chinese company can really enter the market, not to mention Baidu is a company set up only 7 years.

But when Baidu announced the legend, former Sony chairman and CEO of the company to join Baidu Board of directors as an independent director of the post, some people began to Baidu in Japan's future lay down, because this business sector predecessors may bring unlimited energy for Baidu.

two-degree handshake, "deep Love"

In November 2006, on the new Economic Leaders Summit held in Gongqi, Japan (new Industry Leader Summit, "NILS"), Li first saw a well stretching. The people at that time were very young, and the elderly, who seemed to be abrupt, attracted his attention.

At a small gathering of attendees later in Tokyo, Li finally had his first face-to-face in-depth with the well. To the surprise of Robin Li, out of the well to Baidu not only know, there is a general understanding. As the leading Sony from Japan to the important figure of internationalization, well and Lee on the internationalization of Baidu in-depth discussion, and to Baidu how to enter the Japanese market put forward a very valuable advice.

Li has been greatly inspired by the idea of the well, but also see the extension of the well to the value of Baidu's identity-which prompted his decision to invite the well into the Baidu board.

Then Li went to Japan again when he went to see a well, because many people can not talk about this matter, and finally only to wait until the extension of the car to work, only two people alone opportunity to get along. Li immediately made the request to him, did not expect the well extension of the very happy promised to consider. Then Li also introduced the board of the other people with the well met, and we found that the idea of the Internet is very close to each other. Hence, the addition of the well extension becomes logical.

The influence in Japan is almost a myth

Baidu's previous board has 5 people, according to the SEC requirements, more than half of the board members must be independent directors, so Baidu's board of directors before the structure has been met such a requirement, well access is not like many other enterprises, just play a "vase" role, He and other independent directors will truly contribute to the development of Baidu.

For example, his influence in Japan is almost a myth, both in politics, in the corporate world and in ordinary Japanese people, who admire him. In addition, the extension of the wells in addition to serving Sony, but also as a bank of Japan advisers, Japan's Information Industry Strategic Planning Committee members, in the political and business community, a wide range of contacts, will help Baidu's development in Japan more smoothly. And his popularity will be in Baidu and the Japanese people bridge differences a bridge.

According to the insider said, at that time, the first time to ask Robin Li to eat, Li said that in Japan's development encountered a little difficulty, at that time, said, "I know their head", picked up the phone rang in the past, quickly help Baidu settle the problem.

After 45 years in Sony, he has a good understanding of the Japanese market and even the entire Asian market. Although Sony appears to be a home appliance manufacturing company, it has been said 10 years ago that "the Internet and broadband are two meteorites that threaten manufacturing survival". As a result, his perception of the internet is certainly not less than that of many internet entrepreneurs.

Coupled with the extension of the well in the international experience, his joining will undoubtedly become Baidu's future global expansion of a think-tank.

the adventurers ' global ambitions

At the end of last year, Baidu announced its entry into the Japanese market, making the decision that Baidu needs to take risks. Because everyone knows that the Japanese market is a very closed market, here to open a Japanese search engine can be said to be a big investment, long cycle of things. And at this point, the two major search engine companies Google and Yahoo has largely monopolized the Japanese market.

But for Baidu, the market is also full of temptations. According to statistics, Japan's pay search engine market is 5 times times the size of China (according to the data of the market analysis, China's search engine marketing Market Size in 2007 will be 3.3 billion yuan). By this estimate, Baidu even in the Japanese market as long as the market share of about 10%, revenue will be far more than the current performance in the Chinese market. This is also the Baidu "adventure" to choose the Japanese market to meet the difficult and an important reason.

Although many Chinese companies have suffered setbacks on the international road, the market facing Baidu is not the same as that of other companies. "The advantage of the internationalization of some manufacturing companies is that they are low-cost, and there is no such problem with Baidu." Because for ordinary users, search is free, as long as Baidu in the newly opened market, such as the Japanese market to obtain a good flow, I believe the commercialization of the success of the difficulty is not very big. "Some analysts said to reporters.

Therefore, with a well extension of the join, Baidu was not too clear to see the "Japanese Raiders" gradually become clear, and this belief is only the beginning. For Baidu, conquer the most difficult market, its internationalization of the road will be brighter.