The Post Money Value

China Opportunities Sponsored by Ontario, Canada

I've blogged about the great work the Government of Canada (National and down to local) does for Canadian companies.

Here is one such example of communications I just got. Sorry for the format, I'm doing this on the RIM before the door closes on my plane.

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Canada Pavilion @ EXPO COMM CHINA 2008 Event Detail October 21-25, 2008 - Beijing, China

Expo COMM is the largest and the most influential Telecom/IT Exhibition in Asia, and the only national level international ICT exhibition ever held in China. The government of Canada, in partnership with Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA), invite you to exhibit in the Canada Pavilion.

Scope of Exhibits (please see a complete list in the Event Detail ) Networks: Access Technologies; Broadband Network; Data Communications; Networking Equipment and Technologies; Mobile Communications; Network Security; Wireless Networking, etc.

Manufacturing: Antennas, Towers and Earth Stations; Cable & Ancillaries: Coaxial, Connectors, Copper; Components, Parts and Accessories; Personal Terminals, etc.

Others: Video Conferencing; Broadcasting Equipment and Services; Satellite Communications; Microwave Systems, etc.

Registration The cost of participation the pavilion is CAD$5000 for one standard booth with the size of 1.4m (L)*0.6m (W). A subsidy including 50% of the international airfare up to CAD $800 plus a maximum of CAD $1000 in per diem’s is available for eight Canadian exhibitors in the pavilion.

There is limited space and both registration and subsidies are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, please contact Lisa Yang at or by facsimile:86-755-86329787 before Aug 30th, 2008.

For registration and detail information, please contact

Ms. Lisa Yang Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA), Shenzhen Tel: 011-86-755-86329776 Fax: 011-86-755-86329787 E-mail: lisa@cata-china.org

Canada Pavilion @ China High-Tech Fair 2008 Event Detail October 12-17, 2008 - Shenzhen, China

The government of Canada invites you to exhibit at the China High-Tech Fair (www.chtf.com ), which is a national-level show and it is also the flagship exhibition of Shenzhen.

China High-Tech Fair is a multi-sector show with telecom session as a component. It might not be a perfect trade show for companies looking for professional visitors in a specific industry or products in narrow field but is a good opportunity for branding, especially if the company showcases its products under the Canadian national pavilion in the overseas exhibition hall.

Canadian Consulate General in Guangzhou will organize a Canada pavilion and organize Canadian companies to participate in CHTF in 2008. Ontario has secured a booth within the pavilion and Ontario companies are invited to exhibit in the booth/pavilion for free.

For registration and detail information, please contact

Cathy Yao, Trade Commissioner Tel: 8620-8666-0569 ext 3351 Fax: 8620-8668-6093 E-Mail: cathy.yao@international.gc.ca

The 2nd China International Service Outsourcing Fair (CISOF) Event Detail September 23-25, 2008 – Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

The 2nd China International Service Outsourcing Fair (CISOF), organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and Jiangsu Provincial Government, will take place in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 23rd – 25th September 2008.

The fair is fully supported by Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Information Industry and Ministry of Science & Technology.

Ontario companies (particularly in the software and IT service sector) are invited to exhibit and participate in the fair by the organizer for free. Those who are considering outsourcing to china might benefit from this fair.

For registration and detail information, please contact

Stephen Niu, Representative Office in Canada China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) China Chamber of International Commerce Tel:416-363-8561 Fax: 416-363-0152 E-mail: niuliangliang@ccpit.org

Pissed Off - Live

I can safely assume that Apple and or AT&T are having a few problems with getting the new iPhone up and running on the network.  I just got through the security line at LGA, heading home.

 

Security guy: "Sir, what's in this box, please, we need to check it."

Guy: "It's a piece of shit iphone I bought for my spoiled brat kid which I stood line for a damn hour to get. Then those phreaking butt wipes couldn't do whatever so I got this box of crap that can't be used and I have to deal with a pissed of kid.  Hey, fry it in that X-Ray machine will ya!"

Technology, I love this stuff.

The Taxi Cab Internet

If you've been in New York or several other cities and be in a cab, you've not doubt seen this:

That gizzmo above and to the left of the touch screen is a Paypass terminal along with a standard swipe device for taking credit cards. The screen, as I mentioned, is a touch screen. Those tabs above are hot and that map is live/moving, along with the news feed from Ken and Lori.  There is an ad above the news video.

I asked the particularly friendly cab driver a few questions:

How long is the average cab ride during the rush hour, inside the city. This was to exclude the Airport runs.  He said can be 7 - 15 minutes based on traffic.  Said some people commit time suicide (his words, awesome, eh!) by attempt to go cross town or this side to that side, etc.  We didn't count them.

Do people futz with this device and/or ask him questions about it? Friendly guy so I thought people might talk with him.  He said that on airport runs, they are very popular (outbound for news/inbound for tourist going "cool!" in 100 languages).  In the city, not so much that he could tell. He made a point of assuring me that he really doesn't know what goes on (wink, nod, smile).  He said 90% of his clients (his word!) knew where they were going or were using their Blackberry (his words, eat THAT Apple :-p ).  At night drunks or people making out so it's ignored.

I have a start-up class to teach later this month and will be interesting when I present the following situation:

What would you do to maximize this opportunity from an advertising or usage perspective?  Is it an opportunity?

It will be interesting to hear what the students have to say,

Canadian Cutback Chronicles

My friend and A list financial blogger, Mark McQueen, has a two part (more probably coming) series on how the Wall/Bay street i-banker folks can survive and cut back given the fun economic times we are in. Part one is here with part two here. 

And a plug for my town, he says:

"Move to Aurora

VC Rick Segal tells me that this is practically a cure-all. Everything is cheaper in Aurora, he assures. Dry cleaning, takeout food, lawn maintenance. Maybe not Starbucks, but the rest of the things you care about. What’s more, First Professional has just constructed a huge WalMart plaza at Wellington and 404, so you can get your environmentally sensitive lightbulbs and DVDs (going out to the movies is too expensive) cheaper now, too."

Aurora is not Homer, Alaska, but is a great place to live and we are cheaper.

Mark's post are funny but I keep thinking every start up on the planet should be pulling out the Live to fight another day" handbook.

Interesting times they are a coming.

I'll keep the lights on for you, Mark, just back the double-wide up over there.

Economy Fun

Hmmm... I just landed in NY City (LGA), got off an Air Canada Airbus with 12 people on it, into a cab, and dropped off on Park Ave in the span of 27 minutes.

No people on the plane. No traffic into the city.

This can't be a good thing.

Quote of the Day

"The people at Craigslist got it right. They answer to pretty much no one. They have an awesome business and they hook guys up with naughty chicks."

Let that be a lesson to you as you work on your start-up.

I love Howard, I really do.