Internet in India

I strongly feel that Indian Market is just right to start a business in Consumer Internet. There’s nothing really bad about building a clone of a service which is successful in US. Afterall you are entering a new Market, a Market offering more than 18 million online users.

Online DVD rentals, which was an unexplored territory until last year, now happens to have quite a bit of competition with many services starting in India. Following are some of my thoughts:

1. Challenge: Indian Mindset! Still, most of the people aren’t willing to make payments online. They would still like to see the face and whereabouts of the party they are paying to. Fortunately, the scenario is changing atleast in the Metros, but still would take some time to spread. (That’s the reason we say it’s the right time to enter Indian Market).

2. Are online DVD Rentals a threat to local DVD Rental Operators: Immediate, NO!, long term YES!, only when people realize the value add of an online service and the professionalism it offers in all it’s dealings. (I am absolutely satisfied with CineSprite’s services in terms of customer care. How long?)

3. Who gets the princess? - It wouldn’t be about better UI, niether would it be about Site Speed, it has to be about Quality of Service, better service plans and supporting revenue models, probably, online stores, advertising on delivery envelopes, web advertising etc.

There certainly is going to be more competition here

And WOW!! Seventymm receives $7m

consumer-internet-india

The fact that India has over 18 million Internet users in the age group of (15+) (Source:http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=137510) inspired me to do some research around social networking sites coming up in India.

It seems a lot is happening:
www.peopleaggregator.net - Open Social Networking, *Open Source P2P Social Network Engine*, Marc Canter (Broadband Mechanics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Canter)  started it. Based on FOAF. v1.1 is  already live.
Read more on http://slashdot.org/articles/04/03/30/2333258.shtml

Upcoming Social Networking Sites in India
www.Fropper.com - Gaining momentum in India, they are marketing heavily in India
www.yaari.com - Lot of Buzz around this, upcoming social networking site, customized to Indian user’s needs, that’s what they claim on there blogs.
www.linknsurf.com - Mobile Social Networking
www.goyaar.com - beta live

www.humsubka.com - Seems to be a MySpace clone

It’s interesting to note that, mobile social networking has also started to pick up in India.

I’ve been trying to figure out exactly what features are customized to India. Next post probably!