The Chinese instant messaging provider Tencent which markets its Internet messaging service as QQ, may launch a QQ-themed netbook. Tencent is currently carrying out an online survey among relevant users about this potential device.

The idea is that it will have a QQ-themed design and be extremely portable. In addition, the netbook will integrate a management tool that can combine Tencent’s software and those of other companies.

Tencent is not going into the computer making business. This is obvious and underlined by the fact that in Tencent’s market testing questionnaires, the company asks the users about which manufacturer should be the producer of the new Netbook. And you can take it the answer will be one of the many makers in China.

The news about the launch of the QQ-themed netbook has been confirmed by Tencent, but the company also confirms it is not going to start flogging hardware.

A representative from Tencent said, in PRspeak, ‘the company will cooperate with relevant manufacturers in a model that can maximize the user value and provide relevant Internet applications solutions to make it easier for users to access Tencent’s Internet products and services.’

We may see a lot more of this.

Would a Netbook themed to be used primarily with Google sell?

Would a War of the Worlds themed Netbook sell?

The answer to both of those questions is ‘yes.’ The next question, which is probably one that is being asked extensively within TenCent is: will it make us a profit and will it enhance our image? If not, perhaps we should drop it and attend to our knitting.

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Entry was posted on Friday, January 2nd, 2009 at 1:48 am under Notebook.

Read more entries by Gareth Powell.
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