MySpace takes on Japan’s Mixi
p2pnet.net news:- Kenji Kasahara, founder and president of Mixi, Japan’s answer to MySpace, says he isn’t worried about the latter’s entry into Japan.
Last November, Rupert Murdoch’s MySpace teamed up with Softbank to start a Japanese version of MySpace but, “It is difficult for latecomers to enter the market,” Kasahara says, according to The Japan Times.
“Our site is a destination for more than 8 million registered members and they commit to our site by keeping diaries and exchanging opinions in communities on a daily basis.”
People can join by invitation only, says the story. Members form Internet communities and can blog, send each other messages, put photos, music and video on their sites.
“About 60 percent of Mixi users are in their 20s and 30s and about 67 percent of the members log in the site at least once every three days, Mixi said,” The Japan Times goes on. “Kasahara said Mixi will still have to keep adding new services to attract more members. The company began a video-uploading service Monday, hoping to compete with YouTube, the popular U.S. video-sharing Web site.”
On copyrights, a problem plaguing Google’s YouTune, Japanese authorities have urged YouTube executives to, “work harder to stop people from posting videos that violate intellectual property rights,” says Associated Press.
But Kasahara sasy Mixi posts would be diffwerent from those on YouTube.
“I do believe that members, for example, upload video clips of their newborn babies or their weddings,” AP has hom saying. “I don’t think many people upload a full movie or other things that are illegal.”
Nonetheless, “Kasahara said he hoped that copyright laws will be eased as it is becoming common for people to watch movies and TV programs, and listen to music over the Internet,” states the Times story.
Meanwhile, visit Mixi and you find, “prim, organized columns and boxes of stamp-size photos – not the flashy text and teen-magazine-like layout of its American counterpart, MySpace.com,” says AP.
But “flashy” MySpace won’t be bowing to minimalist Japan. “The look and mood of MySpace’s Japanese site … will not differ from the American original,” states the story, adding:
“Even MySpace Japan Vice President Naoko Ando acknowledged MySpace isn’t about to put Mixi out of business, but she believes Japanese can use both. Ando is hoping that Japanese may want to check out American musicians, who offer tunes, messages and virtual friendships on MySpace. The site plans to use its Softbank partnership to sign on Japanese artists.”
Also See:
The Japan Times – Mixi ready to face MySpace in Japan market, says Mixi president, February 8, 2006
Associated Press – MySpace Faces Stiff Competition in Japan, February 16, 2006
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