Apple's first large boutique store in China, which is scheduled to open in 2008, will be located at Qianmen Street, south of Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

According to Netease.com, Apple is applying for a business license for the new store, and in order to maintain the original feel of the Qianmen area, Apple will give up its standard design to coordinate with China's architectural features.

Qianmen Street is currently undergoing a US$40 million renovation and it is expected to be built into a walking street home to more than 300 well-known brands like Adidas and Starbucks.

CDC Software, a wholly owned subsidiary of CDC Corporation, has signed an agreement to acquire a 51% stake in Integrated Solutions Limited, a Hong Kong-based vendor of ERP systems designed for small and medium-sized discrete manufacturers in China, for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in 1985, ISL provides complete ERP solutions designed to address the needs of small and medium-sized discrete manufacturers in the electronics, toy, watch and furniture industries in China. ISL has more than 150 customers in southern China, including Ansen Electronics, Artfield Manufacturing, Verint Systems, Unilux Time, and Kendy Enterprise.

The parties expect to complete the transaction by the end of March 2008.

US technology firm 3Com said Wednesday that it and Bain Capital Partners and Huawei Technologies of China have withdrawn their joint filing to US regulators concerning their proposed merger.
However, the companies remain committed to continuing discussions to find a way forward for the agreed deal, 3Com Corporation said.

3Com's board unanimously approved a merger agreement with affiliates of US private equity firm Bain Capital Partners for about $2.2 billion in cash on September 28.

Microsoft MSN has launched a Chinese-version of its Live Map search to further promote its Live Search Internet strategy in China.

Based on Chinese users' demand and the market features of China, Microsoft's Map Search contains information on 114 Chinese cities, with a focus on bus transfer routes during the initial period. Tao Chuang, senior director of Microsoft's Virtual Earth team and person in charge of Microsoft's local search service, said that Microsoft's success in local search, including map search, relied on complete localization of the content, localized development and application as well as close cooperation with local business partners.

China Network Economy Research Center's report shows that the market value of China's map search will break RMB500 million in 2008 and it will reach RMB1.5 billion in 2010.

January, 2008

After news yesterday that Dentsu was embarking on a new Chinese Internet advertising venture, rival Wunderman, a member of Young and Rubicam and a division of WPP's network, has acquired AGENDA Group for for an undisclosed sum.

With offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, and Kuala Lumpur, AGENDA will provide Wunderman with online strategy, web development and management, online advertising, online media and web analytics capabilities and resources for its global network clients across the region.