2006 is done with. There is alot happening in the dot-com scene in India. Events like Proto are helping kick-start the Internet scene. IIT’s around the country are helping with seminars, TiE is stepping up to the plate and working with young minds. India is getting close to the so called tipping point, but its not quite there yet. The problem, most of the websites, and ideas are not original, there are copies of Youtube, copies of flickr, copies of job-sites, social networks, dating websites. I agree there are only so many ideas in the world, but if its for India, make in India centric, localise it, use the language.
Broadband penetration is increasing, and will continue to do so, PC penetration is also on the rise, shopping will occur on the Internet, just as it has across America and now Europe.
So why have I mentioned theveniceproject.com?
India has the biggest movie industry in the world, India is movie and music crazy, it missed out on the P2P revolution of napster and kazaa, but if a few guys put there heads together, they could so easily build the P2P system for TV/Movies. theveniceproject.com is just that, part of the team is the same team behind kazaa, and skype, they know P2P. But, and here’s the but, its not live, its not ready, India could take the lead here, (as long as they work fast…very fast) look at the concept and do it better, think about all those movies produced every year, think of a the new distribution channel.
If there are any TV companies reading this, or music veterans, or even Bollywood stars (why are you reading this 
), write a blank cheque and grab hold of a few techies and build this. Don’t be upset when movies get distributed for free in 12 months, be part of it. You missed out on the music P2P systems, and have RiAA chasing everyone, just because you lost money, dont make the same mistake again.
Apollo
The second word in the title is Apollo, nope this is not the spacecraft, but the software platform being built by Adobe. It’s difficult to describe in a few words, suffice to say if you are building on-line shopping carts, or have desktop applications which link with on-line websites, you need to look at Apollo. Imagine having Rediff, link to your desktop, no big deal there, but imagine you don’t need C++ programmers to build that little widget, imagine its just a webpage…still not convinced…hint eBay (san dimas) are working with hit…get moving. All you travel websites, Yatra, Makemytrip and Travelmasti this is what you need.
Internet pentration is increasing, we need to speed it up, lets change the keyboards, and bring in the low cost PC (disclosure: I am involved in a project in this area..more soon)
Filed under: General Rants, India, Internet, Reviews, technology, web2.0
Venice Project, the beta version looks good, although I disagree that India can copy it, these guys have 12 months on anyone, and they have Peer 2 peer prior exp.
Like Skype, I think there will be lots of companies, which is always good. India could do it in their language.
Mobile networking, why not have social networks on a mobile phone. India has a really big mobile user base.
Suman, mobile networking in India could be huge, in fact I think India has more mobile subscribers than any other country.
One of the main problems is that Indian telcos still think they should be developing all the apps, as well as running a telecoms business. They want to control everything. Also they still do not release location data, which would really help for social networks.
A service like Twitter, although really simple would be a good idea in India
I’d agree with Iqbal on this. The Potential for mobile networking is huge. Actually, if we wait for broadband and PC penetration to reach the masses, I doubt we’ll ever get off our seats.. for the indian atmosphere and all the different criterias, it seems mobile phones are a better tool and well within the affordability levels… and unlimited GPRS connections are quite reasonably priced.
Vijay
Organizer – Proto.in
Vijay, thanks for the feedback, emergic (rajesh Jain’s) team do a lot for the mobile world, but the telecoms just dont seem to want to partner with the startups. Try getting Mr Mittal et al to work with new companies…trust me have been trying but without much luck.
Reliance are the same, but the smart ones, Rediff (I know they are not telecoms) are working with startups, they realise that the future is in supporting the new companies, rather than stealing their ideas…and in the process killing the creativity.
MoSoSo, as they are called, could be the app that India is waiting for, open up LBS. Just think if you could walk into a club somewhere, and the person you wanted to meet on shaadi.com was there, you phone sends you a message saying a friend from your network is nearby.
Shops would also benefit, walk past a shop like shopper stop, they send you a message of their instore discounts (as long as you have subscribed), that would “force” you to move into the shop.
I could go on….
P.S. Good luck with proto, unfortunately I will not be able to make it..am in the UK then, but would be great to see what ideas are about
Very interesting subject to know for 2007.
Thanks
Ton
http://Letme-LoveYou.com