whitebark said:
Show some stats on how much Indians spend online.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/E-sales_to_touch_Rs_5500_cr_this_fiscal/articleshow/2134265.cms
Rs5500 crores = $1,375,000,000
This is expected to grow at least 150% year on year till 2012.
And thats only B2C.
whitebark said:
Back in the real world - why do you think online advertisers are still only willing to spend .10 or less on any click from India or China?
Its a question of numbers, what would you prefer - 1000x$0.10 v/s 100x$0.50
whitebark said:
The economies of India and China are big only because of the sheer numbers of people living there.
Is absolutely correct. In fact a large number of Indians live in Canada and US. They're a part of the market too.
whitebark said:
Both are second world countries undergoing their own brands of industrial and social revolutions that took place in the West 100 years ago. They are doing it at an accelerated rate, but are still a decade off from being what could really be considered economies where everyone has a piece of the action.
Both are developing nations (second world and third world are politically incorrect terms btw) and the fact of the matter is you're agreeing that the economies are growing at an accelerated rate, how can that be a bad thing?
If you think we're 100 years behind the west in industrial terms you are totally mistaken. I'd recommend you take a look at most of the products available in your shops, a large percentage of them will be made in China. Then look at all the fashion industry sources and you'll find Indian products there. Outsourcing is a big issue in the US because its a huge industry too.
And I don't think any country in the world can claim 'everyone' has a piece of the action.
whitebark said:
Income disparity is also terrible - many of those online users in those nations don't earn the $4000 a year either.
Almost all online users would be earning more than $4000 a year, at least those being counted in the ecom stats quoted above. $3,800 was per capita income in 2005. And per capita includes the $1/day crowd too.
A fresh graduate with no skills today makes a start of $500+ per month, professionals get $1000+ at the start. And this increases exponentially with length of service.
whitebark said:
In India, 390 million people still live on $1 a day or less. That's hardly the hallmark of an economic powerhouse.
US and Canada have their share of homeless, poor and disenfranchised too. While the percentage might be lower, its a matter of concern that even first world countries can't feed, clothe and shelter everybody.
Economic disparity is a fact of life, everywhere in the world. Its the people
in between the rich and the poor who are the regular and potential users of the internet and here sheer numbers and growth potential are both upsides imho.
Facts as I see them -
1. .ca can only be used by Canadians. .in already has a dev base in Germany, Russia and India. And I'm sure it will have acceptance beyond these countries due to 'in' being a preposition and lending itself well to hacks.
2. Both .ca and .us are overshadowed completely by the .com in local markets. .in is too, but its changing. Very little scope of that happening for ca/us.
3. And as far as growth potential goes -
As per
http://www.internetworldstats.com
Canada has 66% internet penetration with 33 million users.
USA has 71% internet penetration with 300 million users.
China has 15% internet penetration with 210 million users.
India has 5% internet penetration with 60 million users.
I'll let you draw your own conclusions. I hope I have not offended anyone, just offering my viewpoint.