AOL is in the midst of launching the Chinese versions of its portal: Both of the Taiwan and Hong Kong portals are available to the users now.

For the Taiwan version, it features lot of AOL’s free contents and services, such as Email, AIM, daily news content, video search and etc. According to AOL, “People in Taiwan are among the world’s most sophisticated Internet users,” said Maneesh Dhir, Executive Vice President, AOL International. “Our goal is to deliver an experience that leverages the depth of our product and content offerings, tailored to the individual interests of online users in Taiwan.”

Moreover, AOL will also deliver a co-branded AOL/HP portal for users of HP desktop and notebook PC’s in near future.

In pertaining to AOL’s Hong Kong portal, it was created by a joining force with China.com Corporation, the leading pan-Asian integrated Internet service company, and its affiliate China Internet Corporation. Like the Taiwan portal, its services offered to the Hong Kong people will also include Email and AIM. At the same time, Hong Kong users are entitled to access the message boards and built-in chat, i.e. “ICQ - I seek you”. However, unique content such as Feng Shui, Chinese cuisine and recipes, Cantonese pop entertainment, horse-racing forums by famous Hong Kong commentators, and Hong Kong stock market update can also be found on the portal. In all, this portal will be managed by the AOL Hong Kong team and thus, it was mainly focused on serving the Hong Kong users.

Apparently, AOL has its vision in Hong Kong, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of America Online, Inc., Steve Case said: “Our goal in Hong Kong, as around the world is to help make the interactive medium a central and valuable part of people’s lives. AOL Hong Kong offers the Internet and much more: local Chinese content, powerful global content and community, and simplified access to the Internet. At the same time, AOL is delighted to join with our partners, China Internet Corporation and China.com Corporation, in helping fuel Hong Kong’s development as a key Internet hub in Asia.”

AOL is continue to position itself as a media company by launching its AOL Technology Network. This Technology Network can be accessed through a link named as Tech on the AOL’s landing page, and click the Tech will bring you to this Technology Network, which also has a separate domain name called Switched. From this Technology Network, I believe AOL is aiming to be an information intermediary, they knew that if they could make it, they’ll have real power. Imagine all the visitors visit this network everyday and reading all the latest technology news and products, it will generate a strong advertising and lead generated revenue for them.

AOL’s Technology Network comprised of some top blogs in today’s blogosphere. Engadget, Engadget Mobile, Engadget HD, Joystiq, TUAW (The Unofficial Apple Weblog), DownloadSquad, Switched are the top blogs that included in this network. All these blogs are also subscribed by me through my feeds reader and I read these blogs regularly every week. On top of that, Switched will served as the network’s central hub. Seemed like they’re focusing on page views. According to AOL, this network will be the second largest technology news and information publisher online. However, I don’t think they’re capable to compete with CNet in the short run, especially the blogs under the umbrella of this network are more hardware or gadget oriented.

In an unexpected move, AOL announced that it has entered an agreement to acquire Bebo for $850 million, the number one social networking platform in the U.K. Bebo was a startup founded in year 2005, experienced exponential growth especially in the U.K. and attracted more than 40 million users worldwide. Also valuable is Bebo’s principle of original content, it has pioneered the blending of original content in the social networking industry by co-producing a TV show entitled “Kate Modern”.

This was an important move for AOL in its bid to seriously challenge the leading position of MySpace and Facebook, and also put to rest rumors that AOL is pursuing a deal with Yahoo! in the midst of Microsoft-Yahoo! merger plan.

Bebo, headquartered in London, has approximately 100 employees operating in offices in the UK, San Francisco and Austin, Texas.

To know what’s going on Bebo, watch the video of Joanna Shields, President of Bebo discussed about Bebo, as embedded in the below.

I am in a mix feeling when reading Netscape blog on the end of the Netscape browser. According to them, they will not support the Netscape browser after 1st March 2008, initially they decided to discontinue the support after February 1, 2008. Also, noted that after 1st March, we’ll see the Netscape browser users will split into two different group of users, Mozilla (behind Firefox) and Flock as they appear to be benefited by this decision. Meanwhile, Netscape is reminding all its browser lovers to make a switch to Firefox or Flock, or continue to use Netscape’s latest version, i.e. Navigator 9.0.0.6 until 1st March.

The Times Online today is reporting that Yahoo! may resume its talks with AOL about a possible merger. This new direction for Yahoo! is simple, yet clever. Yahoo! was reported want to avoid the takeover from Microsoft, a talk with AOL about the merger possibilities would signaling its intention to keep the Yahoo! brand name in the market while retain its core values. However, the merger deal is expected not to be finalized easily as this involved several parties. Google has a 5 per cent stake in AOL and AOL’s back-end search engine was provided by Google.

It is common sense to assume that Yahoo! might want to pursue its media dream by merging its media businesses with AOL. On the other side, Google will take over Yahoo! search or ads division, further solidifying its number one position in the online ads industry.

via [Times Online]

AOL has announced that they won’t provide any support on Netscape browser after February 1, 2008. In matter of fact, the shrinking of user base with the stiff competition likely put the end of a browser’s era. However, the Internet portal of Netscape will always open to serve the other needs of their users, but not that surprise, they recommended their existing users to switch to Firefox.

Indeed, people nowadays no longer speculate on the next generation of Netscape browser. What’s on their mind is how powerful the Firefox 3.0 when it ready to be released to the market. For existing Netscape browser users, a switch to Firefox is a wise move as Mozilla has provided more support on its browser through shorter release cycles.

The other day I came across a new gaming site that called QQ Games. It is also designed as an official plugin for the AIM users to play games with their buddies online. In order to play the games that offered by QQ Games, one must become an AIM user and download the plugin that weight in at 11.8MB. The platform this QQ Games supports at this moment is Windows. In the meantime, the games available include Treasure Hunter, Robo, Match Master, Black Jack, and Pool. According to the statistical data compiled from Quantcast, QQ Games has attracted more than 160,000 monthly uniques barely in the US.

QQ, a strong domestic brand name in China when people come to using the instant messaging service. On the other hand, AIM is AOL’s instant messenger (IM), both have laid a strong foundation involving the Web startups based on the IM platform. The creation of QQ Games plugin is a great example of how a China company works with an American firm and provides a good case for the Chinese entrepreneur that was pondering how to go on from what has already been achieve in China and replicate the success in the US market.

I just came across the Webmail product of AOL is now fully integrated with AIM, as stated in a press release. This new Web-based email service will allow users to use the email and Instant Messaging services simultaneously from the same application. This is in line with AOL’s vision, i.e. to provide online users with a service that was fundamental to their lives. As I visited the latest news and updates page of AOL, there are bunch of new features that was built-in to this new release, in addition to the launched of the new AIM WIMZI widget.

AOL went public in year 1992, purchased Netscape Communications for about $10 billion in stock in year 1999, started its offering of the Web-based email in 2000, has always remained as one of the most popular email systems among home users.