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Archive for December, 2008
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Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Finding ideas on what to blog
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008
Ever get writer’s block? ‘Course you do, we all do at one time. Have you ever posted what you thought was a killer post only to get no response at all? We have all posted stinkers that were greeted with tumble weeds, I know I have. Here are ten proven post formulas to get your creative juices, and your traffic, flowing.
Nick and I were discussing last night about what posts work and don’t work. There is a little disagreement between us about what is important that I think we have resolved. Nick favours posts that illicit a community response, he likes to see lots of comments. Me, I like to see my posts read by hundreds of people, lots of links, tagging and bookmarking as icing on the cake. In the end I think we agreed the ideal is both. A post is probably most interesting when it is well read AND commented on. I think we should start using “interestingness” as a metric. Keep this in mind as you read this post to see how you can salt some of these ingredients through your posts to make your blog more interesting. Anyway, on to the list..
1. How to
Let’s start with the obvious one shall we? “How to” is perhaps the easiest starting point because most niches will have new people entering the space that need to be brought up to speed. Everyone can learn something, there is always something new to learn about even if it is a new twist on a very old idea. You can get ideas for topics by looking around forums and email discussion lists for common questions or problems people commonly have. Even better if you have already answered these problems successfully you are half way there. “How do I” questions are solid gold inspiration material.
Make sure you post with a clear benefit to the reader and you clearly target the correct audience. “How to make a million from your blog” would be a good topic for this blog, “How to program an operating system in 7 days” probably would not be.
2. Lists
If I am not careful I will start becoming a bit of a joke around performancing. How many top ten lists have I written? Thing is, lists work. They are easy to skim and digest. They also help structure your writing to make writing them easier, the outline is already there. Coming up with the ideas are a little trickier but digging around and finding two related items is all you need to brainstorm the full list. I like ten items but any number above two works as long as it is a decent list without duplication.
3. Campaign
Campaigns are a funny one. They either work very well or go down in flames and it is difficult to know beforehand what your audience will rally round. Newspapers do this a lot. It helps to get your audience hot under the collar and against a common enemy. There are lots of campaigns in the blog world, from web standards to free speech.
The great thing about campaign posts is they can be a force for positive outcomes. In the search space a popular guy disappeared, the call to action to find him and bring him home really brought the community together and all the blogs were buzzing. The important thing is you have to be passionate about it and your audience needs to care. A tricky one to pull off but if you do the effect can be magnetic.
4. Interview
If you are really stuck and you have access to niche celebrities, get them on IM or the phone and interview them. I must say I don’t have the knack for interviewing but some people seem to do it naturally. The key to a good interview is asking questions either the audience wants to know answers to or that elicit answers that are very interesting.
1. Do your research
2. Prepare questions beforehand not off top of your head
3. Send your questions to the interviewee in advance
4. Interview is about the interviewee, not about you
5. Ask open-ended questions, yes/no answers kill interviews
6. Interact! Don’t just fire off questions, make the conversation flow
7. Thank the interviewee for their time and ask if there is anything they would like to say or add
5. Review
Reviews are good if you pick a product or service people are interested in, properly review it rather than writing a sales letter, choose criteria that really work. It usually helps to be the first to get hold of the product, reviews can be a bit lame when you are the Nth to write an Ipod Nano review. Write enough good reviews and you might start getting sent stuff, which is nice. I still get sent technical books to review even now when my last book review was years ago.
6. Case study
If you can write from real world experience then case studies can be very powerful. The same information could be in the form of a how-to but I actually like the case study format better for example “How I made my first million” rather than “How to make a million”. It is a matter of perspective and choice but there is no harm in doing both.
7. Research results
Research is a good way of getting publicity and headlines. It always works best when it is your research and using the internet research is easy. Gone are the days where you had to cold-call or walk the streets with clipboards. Use open source polling and survey software, ask some questions you would like to know the answers to and put it out. When you have a decent number of responses (over a thousand preferably) analyse the results. If you can draw interesting conclusions all the better.
8. What’s new, trends
If you are really immersed in your niche then it should be possible to spot trends and report on them. In the blog world this translates to spam blogs, new advertising models, the maturing of blogging from public diaries to businesses.. Have a think about your niche, can you spot any patterns? If you can give a catchy name to it then you might make yourself famous, for example “long tail” and “ajax” to name just two trends that have made names.
9. Attack!
Going on the offensive is risky but definitely drives traffic. We have talked about this before, especially in Nicks linkbait post.
A different take is to set up an argument then knock it down (I believe this is called a straw man but I know the phrase has other definitions).
Think of the documentaries you watch on TV. They usually are advertised with intriguing ideas like “Can you really lose weight by eating only cheese?”, “Were the bombings planned by the CIA”, “New UFO evidence” or “Can this man really read minds” (a little insight into my television viewing habits there folks!). You get pulled in, they throw out lots of “evidence”, only for the last ten minutes to be all about how the evidence is wrong and it can’t possibly be true because of X, Y and Z. This approach is a bit misleading but it can also work simply as a more moderate “other people believe this, this is what I think and why”.
10. Ask the audience
As you will see in just a couple of paragraphs, I like to finish by encouraging feedback but some great articles are only that. Once you have a decent sized audience ask them questions and encourage response. As Nick likes to say, people love to talk about themselves, give them the opportunity. I used this approach to choose a feedreader package, Nick used it to discover the perfect laptop for his needs. Everyone wins with this approach.
Summary
Some of the best posts are combinations of the above. I would always encourage feedback for example, and reviews can be combined with case studies and how-tos.
I am sure there are ideas I have missed, what has worked for you in the past?
Article from: Chris Garrett, from Performancing.com
New trend on how to sell Netbooks
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
- Acer One Netbooks
How’s this for some technological wizardry? Take a $350 netbook and turn it into a $1,500 device without changing anything inside.
That’s exactly what Acer, RadioShack and AT&T have done with their latest netbook offer. On Friday, the trio said they will offer a netbook for $100 upfront — but with a $60 per month, two-year data contract on AT&T. Over the two years of the contract, that adds up to a total of $1,540, or more than four times the list price of the netbook alone.
With the move Acer became the first company to bring a netbook on contract to the U.S. The offer is modeled on how most cellphones are currently sold, and follows similar netbooks-on-contract offers overseas.
“It is interesting move,” says Bob O’Donnell, a vice president with research firm IDC, “but it won’t make a huge dent in the marketplace right away. “The price points they are available today are way too high for most people.”
Netbooks are lightweight notebooks that have limited processor power but offer the promise of easy internet connectivity, portability and low prices (generally under $400). By tying them to contracts, netbook manufacturers hope to drive the purchase price even lower, perhaps even to zero. But will consumers take the bait?
Despite the questionable value in this case, industry watchers say the trend is here to stay as more companies are likely to start selling netbooks this way.
Over the next year, upstarts such as Asus, traditional PC giants such as HP and newer entrants such as peripherals maker ViewSonic are likely to start offering netbooks for almost nothing, along with one or two year sign-ons at major carriers. Ultimately even AT&T, Sprint or Verizon might offer their own branded netbooks.
Sean Maloney, senior vice president in charge of sales and marketing at Intel and the chief strategist for the company, told Wired recently that the popularity of bundled netbook deals in other countries makes it very likely that U.S. consumers will also hop on this train.
Almost-free netbooks bundled with a long term contracts have become popular in countries such as Japan and Germany. In September, Acer partnered with T-Mobile in Germany to offer its netbook for one Euro on a €35 per month two-year data contract.
Bigger PC manufacturers such as Lenovo are also dipping their toes into these waters. Lenovo inked its first netbook-on-contract deal with Bougyues, a popular Telecom in France, last month, says a company spokesperson. From Nov. 17 to Jan. 18, Lenovo is bundling its IdeaPad S10 netbook along with a mobile Internet package from Bougyues as part of a special offer.
“The bundle in France is just starting, so it’s too soon to say,” says the spokesperson. “But bundling is one of many things we’re looking at going forward as evidenced by the relationship with Bougyues.”
Until recently, netbooks in the U.S. have been sold like their larger cousins, notebooks. Their tiny size and online connectivity potential, though, puts netbooks closer to cellphones than laptops, say analysts. Not surprisingly, manufacturers and telecom carriers are following a more cellphone-like retailing strategy for these machines.
But the move has not been without initial mistakes. Acer’s current netbook-on-contract deal is a pricing disaster. A quick back-of-the-envelope math brings some shocking numbers. $60 for 24 months plus the $100 down payment comes up to a whopping $1,540 that you have to pay for a device that without the bundling would cost just about $350.
Clearly not many consumers are likely to bite this deal. “Why bother?” says O’Donnell. “There’s a serious value question here.” Acer executives were not available for a comment. HP is also exploring similar deals to launch a netbook on contract with a major carrier. As telecom carriers discover their promise, these miniature PCs are also likely to find new advocates in the telecom companies.
“Netbooks bring in contract revenue and a lock-in period of two years for the carrier,” says Ross Rubin, an analyst for The NPD Group. “And there’s the promise that if customers have a good experience, they will likely turn to the same carrier for their voice needs.”
Netbook subsidies are mostly likely to be borne by the telecom carrier that is offering the bundled service, says Rubin. AT&T’ spokesperson Mark Siegel refused to comment on the subsidy.
Indeed, AT&T has been quick to dissociate itself from the deal that Asus and Radio Shack have just announced. ”This computer is not being sold by AT&T,” says Siegel. “It’s not like a device sold in our stores that we may or may not subsidize. This is a decision RadioShack has made.”
But if the netbook bundles prove popular, it’s unlikely that telecoms will remain standoffish for long, since netbooks could stimulate more wireless data usage.
Wireless data services are an important and lucrative source of revenue for telecom carriers. The US wireless data market grew 7.3 percent in the third quarter from the previous quarter, reaching $8.8 billion in data services revenue, according to mobile industry consultant Chetan Sharma.
Sharma predicts that the average revenue per user that telecom companies make from voice calls is likely fall by end of 2009 to be replaced by data revenue, which will become more dominant. That also indicates telecom companies could be exploring alternate data access devices and netbooks fit the bill.
Moves by big box electronic stores such as Best Buy to promote mobile devices could also help drive the netbooks on contracts trend, says NPD’s Rubin. In October, Best Buy said it is launching stand-alone stores called Best Buy Mobile in malls to peddle mobile devices. The stores are targeted at women and young shoppers—the demographic that also dovetails with those buying a netbook.
“The point is people see this as an interesting new market opportunity,” says O’Donnell. “Everyone’s thinking if Acer and Asus can be big then why can’t they?”
But getting consumers to spring for netbooks like they buy cellphones won’t be easy. There are cheaper ways to get the kind of easy data connectivity that netbooks like Acer on AT&T promise.
Consumers could use Wi-Fi hotspots offered through carriers to stay connected using their laptops, says Rubin, and they could turn to their smartphones when Wi-Fi is unavailable.
Or they could just plunk down the $350 to buy a netbook off the shelf. All of that will be cheaper than the $1,500 they will pay for a netbook on contract.
For netbooks on contracts to take off like cellphones, the data plan pricing has to be better. Ultimately carriers will have to offer better pricing, like charging customers about $10 to $20 a month to add a netbook onto an existing data plan, says O’Donnell.
“We will certainly see more people do this,” he says. “Many more carriers will be experimenting with it in 2009″
Vital Acai Berry & Total Cleanse, better than other famous diets
Monday, December 29th, 2008Most skinny people think that flabby people got that way because they’re lazy. Truth is, many woman gain extra weight because of life. Kids, work, school—it all takes time from our day. And it’s all so exhausting. Who wants to come home after a full day of work, put kids to sleep, and jump straight on the treadmill? Not me, that’s for sure. And it has nothing to do with laziness. People only have so much energy.
I used to weigh 132lbs. I wasn’t “supermodel skinny,” but I was pretty slim. After my first son was born, I gained about 10 lbs. After my third kid was born, I gained a total of 31lbs.
I weighed 163lbs and felt uncomfortable in my own body. So I decided to start dieting. I tried all the “brand-name” diets like Atkins, South Beach, cabbage (my least favorite), soup, lemon juice. You name it, I tried it. But none produced real results that lasted. So I gave up.
I stopped going out with friends. I felt ugly. I started eating more and more because I just didn’t care. I was in a downward spiral. At my heaviest, I weighed 187lbs. Then I saw something on Oprah that changed my life.
Yep, that was me at my heaviest and right before my life changed when I started using Vital Acai Berry and Total Cleanse.
The TV show that turned my life around.
I wouldn’t say I owe my life to Oprah, but I would say that if I hadn’t been watching when Dr. Oz came on to talk about a new superfood called Acai berry, I’d probably still be fat. Dr. Oz raved about a new berry from the Amazon Rainforest called Acai (pronounced “ah-sa-ee”). It’s more powerful than pomegranate or red wine. And tastier too. But the part that hooked me was when Dr. Oz explained how Acai helps you lose weight by reducing hunger and raising energy levels. Acai seemed like the product I had been waiting for all along. And I trusted Oprah not to have shady doctors on, so I had a feeling this wasn’t one of those “too good to be true” products.
It could have been dumb luck, but the very next day I saw Dr. Oz on another show talking about how cleansing your colon is a great way to lose unwanted weight. I don’t know all the medical details, but basically he was explaining how years worth of gunk and junk get trapped in your colon and trap in all sorts of toxins. It’s a thick slime like tar and it also ads a few inches to your waistline.
You can do all the exercise you want, but it won’t get it out (maybe that’s why all those diets failed for me). Dr. Oz said that cleansing out this sludge would help you lose weight in ways dieting and exercise can’t. That’s when the idea for the “dynamic duo” hit me. What if I tried both Acai products and colon cleanse products to create a super safe and super effective diet?
The “dynamic duo” diet that shed my flab for good
Ok, so I made up the name “dynamic duo.” But I think it sounds pretty cool. The reason I call my diet the dynamic duo is because it uses the two products that Dr. Oz spoke about: Acai and colon cleanse. When I had my idea to combine these two methods, I needed to find a way to test it without spending lots of money. I searched for a few days and found some great free trials of products to test.
The two products I found, and still use, are Vital Acai Berry and Total Cleanse. Here’s how I combine them so effectively:
- Vital Acai (pronounce as Aa-Sai)
- Total Cleanser
Step1:
Vital Acai Berry is the first and most important part of my routine. If you’ve been watching TV lately you know that CNN and Oprah have covered the health benefits of Acai pretty frequently.
Vital Acai Berry and Total Cleanse helps me:
* Regulate my metabolism
* Suppress my hunger during the day
* Boost my energy so I could focus on my kids, job, husband, and just more “me” time.
* Lose several pounds from my body by replacing coffee and soda (and keep my teeth whiter 
)
I got a free 30-day trial of Vital Acai Berry and I simply love the fact that I can take the Acai and go on with my day with no worries.
Step 2:
Total Cleanse is the second important step in my routine. While Vital Acai Berry gives me energy and helps suppress my hunger, Total Cleanse:
* removes the harmful toxins in my body
* removes walls of aged sludge in my colon
* helped me lose several inches off my waist that exercise couldn’t
* helped reduce my blood pressure and cholesterol levels
I got a free bottle of Total Cleanse and I take 1 pill in the morning and 1 in the evening when I take my Acai. They are the perfect weight-loss combination, helping me shed flab and cleanse my system of harmful waste build up. (That’s why I call it the “dynamic duo.”)
The results of MY OWN diet routine
During my trial period I lost 25 lbs! I continued using both products and lost another 17lbs. (That’s a total of 42lbs in 3 months!) I’m back to 145 and I’m just 10lbs away from my pre-mom weight!
I feel healthier and more refreshed than ever. My husband is so proud of what I’ve accomplished and I have more energy to do fun activities with my kids. But best of all, I look and feel sexier than I did in my twenties!
I hope my story provides at least some motivation to help you lose weight. Just don’t give up, because loosing weight really will change your life in ways you never imagined. You’ll feel things you haven’t felt since you were 20. Most importantly, you’ll finally be happy with yourself for tackling your weight once and for all.
I really recommend my method; it worked wonders when everything else failed. But the best part is that the products I found have free trials, so you can test it out and see if it’s right for you.
Article from:
My name is Rachel I live in Newark, NJ and I wanted to share my weight loss story with you. I’m no medical guru or anything like that. I’m just a mom who figured out a system that works better than all the famous diets you tried (you know, the ones that didn’t work?). Hopefully my story can inspire you to try my method and lose some weight!
New creative & innovative MP3 player
Monday, December 29th, 2008The most popular Gizmag articles for 2008
Monday, December 29th, 2008
- TriRod F3
Gizmag.com has just pulled the statistics on the ten most popular articles for 2008, and as expected, a wide range of weird and wonderful things made the list - from the electronic contact lens to the cheeseburger in a can. Read on for the full list.
- The F3 Adrenaline three-wheel motorcycle
- The canned cheeseburger
- Compressed air car set for U.S. launch in 2010
- Can-Am Spyder Roadster review
- Speedo’s LZR Racer swimsuit
- The world’s cheapest new car
- The electronic contact lens
- Electric supercharger promises instant power boost
- Cellwatch M500 wrist-watch phone
- Guitar Hero World Tour vs Rock Band 2
From: Gizmag.com
Internet at the speed of light
Monday, December 29th, 2008
- Dr. Rajendran Parthiban (Abdul Muqsith)
The development of a fully optical internet may not be as far away as previously thought. Some fundamental changes in the network architecture could provide enough cost savings to present a strong case for its implementation, says Monash researcher Dr Rajendran Parthiban.
“Although fibre optic cables are already used for high-bandwidth data transmission, the routers used at the end of these cables work in electrical domain and have the potential to slow down the internet transmission rate,” he says.
“At present, data transmitted over the Internet is sent in bundles called ‘packets’. In routers, these packets are lined up in a process called ‘buffering’ and then forwarded into the Internet. The data is carried through fibres in the form of light (or optical) signals.”
“The optical signals need to be converted to electrical domain in the routers for buffering and forwarding. These signals are converted back to optical domain before being sent through the fibers. This optical-to-electrical-to-optical conversion process is costly and can slow down the transmission rate.”
“One way to increase the transmission rate cost-effectively is through replacing some of these routers with optical cross-connects, which can forward packets solely in optical domain without the need for this conversion,” said Dr Rajendran.
“Optical buffering technology is in its infancy at this stage, hence routers are still required in a network with optical cross-connects for buffering and cost-effective packaging of packets.”
In view of the current limitations in optical buffering, he says an interim technology called Optical Burst Switching can be applied and his research shows that it is more commercially viable than previously thought. An article based on this research has been accepted for publication in Journal of Lightwave Technology.
“There is an additional step that we need to take before we can move to a fully optical internet – where we use the optical burst switching technology as a precursor to fully optical packet switching.”
Dr Rajendran says the cost-effectiveness of Optical Burst Switching shows promise and may pave the way for a fully optical internet hopefully not too far down the road.
For more information:
From - Jasbir Singh, Monash University, Sunway Campus, Malaysia.
Titanic Disaster
Monday, December 29th, 2008On April 14, 1912, the Titanic, the largest, most complex ship afloat, struck an iceberg and sank. The Titanic had a double-bottomed hull that was divided into 16 watertight compartments. Because at least four of these could be flooded without endangering the liner’s buoyancy, it was considered unsinkable. Unfortunately, these compartments weren’t sealed off at the top, so water could have just filled each compartment, tilting the ship, and then spilled over the top into the next one.
- Titanic last voyage
Following recent expeditions to examine the Titanic wreckage and a review of survivor accounts, it is now generally agreed that the iceberg scraped along the starboard side of the ship causing the plates to buckle and burst at the seams and producing several small ruptures in up to six of the first compartments. This is perhaps one of the all-time great failures to correctly modeling the interaction of uncertainty in the environment and the way it can couple with the dynamics of a system. A purely static view of the ship, one that ignored the dynamics of the interaction with the iceberg and the water flow between the compartments, would not have predicted the actual disaster.
How to make money from your blog
Monday, December 29th, 2008
- Sobcon 2007 conference meeting with attendees - photography by Lorelle VanFossen
I am frequently asked about how to make money on the web, especially how to make money with your blog. I find a wide variety of answers around the web, some of them get rich quick schemes, PageRank games, and SEO illusions, but there is only one answer that I want to shout to the roofs, but few people listen.
Blogging as a business is business. It takes business training and skills to make money with your blog.
That’s it. That’s the secret. John Chow, Guy Kawawasaki, Darren Rowse, Seth Godin, these princes of blogging didn’t get rich with their blogs by just having blogs. They used their business sense and know how to make their blogs work for them. They understood that a blog is just another tool in the business arsenal, a business card and resume all wrapped up in one, offering a business a powerful communications tool. In order to make your blog work for you, you have to understand how business works.
To have a “successful” blog and to make your blog work for you, you have to have skills and training in advertising, marketing, economics, finance, writing ability and language skills, public relations, networking, everything any business needs. These are the skills you bring it to your blog to make it a success, earning the money you deserve.
If you don’t have the business skills, where do you get the training you need to flip your blog over into a business and money magnet? You can hang out on the successful problogger’s blogs, digging into their past content and sitting at their knees to learn every day they share another tidbit.
You can take business classes at your local college, university, or community program, taking months or years of training on the basics of business and business communication. You can read a book or three on how others made money, but will it really apply to your specific needs? Maybe. It worked for someone. Or you can get the training you need from fellow bloggers who have “been there done that” with their blog and business expertise and learn from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.
Article from: Lorelle VanFossen, BlogHerald.com. Read more about her article here.
Top 10 Largest Banks in Malaysia
Monday, December 29th, 2008
- Natioanl Bank of Malaysia
Presently, there are more than 20 commercial banks licensed by the Bank Negara Malaysia (National Bank of Malaysia). Followings are the 10 largest banks according to their 2006 net profit. The figures were obtained from the National Union of Bank Employees, NUBE.
Please note that the revenues taken into account are only applicable for their respective Malaysia operation. As such, you will understand why Citibank is not at the top despite being one of the largest banks in the world. Few other foreign banks such as ABN Amro and Bank of America did not even make it to the list even though the profits for their group operation are well in excess of RM20 billion.
1. Maybank (Malayan Banking Berhad)
MaybankMaybank was incorporated in 1960 and today it is the largest financial group in the country, and famous for its yellow and black logo color. The bank has been topping the chart for many years despite being surrounded by a number of controversies including the surcharge issues and recently, the major picketing by its front line staff. Maybank also has strong operations overseas through 500 correspondences across many different regions. Jobs in Maybank cover multi facets of fields including finance, sales, business development & marketing and Information technology.
Net profit: RM2.52 billion
Address: Menara Maybank, 100, Jalan Tun Perak
50050 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: +60 3 2070 8833
2. Public Bank
Public BankPublic Bank is another successful local bank in Malaysia. Even though it does not have a strong brand like Maybank, it continues to record impressive financial results. NUBE reported that the Public Bank CEO’s annual income for the year 2006 was an astounding RM5.5 million, the highest among the major banks in this list. That equals to an average salary of RM15,000 per calendar day. From a small branch set up in 1966, the bank, which was founded by Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr Teh Hong Piow, has grown into a size of over 13,000 employees today. Public Bank’s services include commercial banking, hire purchase financing, credit cards, investment, share broking, unit trust management and many more.
Net profit: RM1.79 billion
Address: Menara Public Bank, 146 Jalan Ampang, Peti Surat 12542
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: +60 3 2176 6000 / 6666
3. CIMB Bank
CIMB BankPresently the best performing bank in Malaysia, the CIMB group continues to grow by means of portfolio expansion locally and overseas, as well as through mergers and acquisitions. In 2004 alone, CIMB accounted as much as 56% of the total value of mergers and acquisition activities in Malaysia. The success of the CIMB bank is much attributed to its founder and Group Chief Executive, Dato’ Nazir Razak, who received his schooling in England since he was 13. He is the son of Malaysia’s second Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, and the younger brother of Dato’ Seri Najib Razak, the current Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Under Nazir’s leadership, the CIMB staff are pushed to work hard but in the end they are rewarded with fat year end rewards and bonuses. Some of the CIMB staff was reported to earn up to 13 months bonuses!
Net profit: RM955 million
Address: No. 6, Jalan Tun Perak, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: +60 3 2693 1722 / 2698 3022
4. HSBC
HSBCThe history of HSBC began in the 19th century when Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Company Limited was established in Hong Kong to finance the growing trade between China and Europe. The main office was moved by the British to London in anticipation of the Japanese occupation in 1941. HSBC Bank Malaysia, which is now part of the HSBC Group, became the first foreign bank to incorporate their entity in Malaysia in 1994. However, their presence was much longer than that since the original Hong Kong and Shanghai Corporation entered the country some time in 1884, beginning its operation in Penang.
Net profit: RM687 million
Address: No. 2, Leboh Ampang, Peti Surat 10244
50912 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: +60 3 2070 0744
5. Citibank
CitibankCitibank is a New York based financial institution and for long it has been ranked as the world’s largest bank. You are probably surprised to hear that the bank’s single largest shareholder is a Saudi Arabia citizen by the name of Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. Al-Waleed is a member of Saudi royal family. Citibank began its operation in Malaysia in 1959 with the opening of their first branch in Jalan Medan Pasar, Kuala Lumpur. It became the first bank from the US to have entered the country. Recently Citibank was ranked 3rd in the 20 World’s Most Profitable Companies in 2007 as listed by CNN Money and Fortune.
Net profit: RM603 million
Address: Aras 45 Menara Citibank, 165 Jalan Ampang
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: +60 3 2383 8585
6. Hong Leong Bank
Hong LeongThe bank began its first operation as Kwong Lee Mortgage and Remittance company, based in Kuching, Sarawak and involved in the financial of the export commodities including peppers, rubber and other agro based products. Despite facing many difficulties during the war and recession periods, the bank survived and listed the company public under the name of Kwong Lee Bank in 1934. The bank went through different ownerships and controls until it was acquired by the Hong Leong Group, a group founded by one of the richest men in Malaysia, Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan. Subsequently, the bank was restructured and renamed Hong Leong Malaysia Berhad, HLBB.
Net profit: RM503 million
Address: Aras 2, Wisma Hong Leong, No 18, Jalan Perak
Peti Surat 12372, 50776 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: +60 3 2164 2828
7. Standard Chartered
Standard CharteredStandard Chartered is a British bank based in London but having most of its revenue coming from the Asia Pacific operation, mainly the former British colonies, including Malaysia. The Malaysia operation started way back in the 19th century and Standard Chartered is considered one of the earliest banks established in the country. The bank currently employs more than 60,000 people worldwide serving its 3 core businesses, mainly Consumer Banking, Corporate and Institutional Banking, and Treasury. The bank has almost 30 branches operating nationwide.
Net profit: RM448 million
Address: Level 16, Menara Standard Chartered
No. 30, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: +60 3 2117 7777
8. OCBC Bank
OCBC BankOCBC Bank was established in Singapore, and is the first ever bank to operate in the Singapore. It has been operating in Malaysia for more than 70 years, and is based in the Menara OCBC, which is just right next to Masjid Jamek LRT Station, Kuala Lumpur. If Malaysia and Singapore is combined, OCBC will be the largest financial institution around with a combined asset of USD100 billion. OCBC also owns one of the largest insurance groups in Malaysia, the Great Eastern Holdings. As for the worldwide operation, OCBC has an extensive network of almost 400 branches in over 15 countries.
Net profit: RM431 million
Address: Menara OCBC, 18 Jalan Tun Perak, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: +60 3 2034 5034
9. UOB Bank
UOB BankAnother Singaporean bank, UOB Malaysia was incorporated in 1993 and later expanded its wing by taking over the operation of Lee Wah Bank Limitied (LWB). The UOB Malaysia bank today is a result of 2 further rounds of merger and acquisition exercises. Presently, the UOB Bank operates throughout Malaysia, in over 40 locations across the country. In 2006, UOB was awarded Best Developed Market Bank in Singapore by Global Finance, Best FIG Borrower in Asia by Euromoney and Best Domestic Bank by Asiamoney.
Net profit: RM407 million
Address: Menara UOB, Jalan Raja Laut, Peti Surat 11212
50738 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: +60 3 2692 4511
10. RHB Bank
RHB BankRHB is a short form of Rashid Hussein Bank, who was recently acquitted from mismanagement charge of the bank’s fund amounting to a few billion ringgits. The RHB was born when Kwong Yik Bank and DCB Bank (Development and Commerce Bank) merged in 1997. Today, the bank is the control of the EPF (Employee Provident Fund) after a recent successful bidding. RHB offers Commercial Banking, Corporate and International Banking services, and currently has more than 200 branch network across the country. To centralize its based hub, RHB built a multi-million complex along Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur which now becomes the main headquarter.
Net profit: RM392 million
Address: Tower Two & Three, RHB Centre, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
Peti Surat 10145, 50907 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: +60 3 9287 8888
From: Zul, Skorcareer.com.my