Digital

BLOG: With social media penetrating the business world, governments are increasingly under pressure to embrace technology. But for an institution steeped in red tape, changing the way they communicate is a challenge, says Chris Tang.

Hong Kong - Mediaedge:cia has hired Sean de Cuirteis from Media Contacts to a newly created role as regional director of its digital division, Interaction.

Malaysia - Malaysiakini has teamed with iProperty.com Malaysia to develop a property channel on its news portal.

Singapore - eBay Singapore has appointed Ad2one to monetise its online inventory and encourage integrated activity on site.

Hong Kong - Raymond Leung, digital business director at OMD for the past nine years, has jumped ship to Neo@Ogilvy, taking on a key role as media planning director.

Hong Kong - On.cc has rolled out a number of mobile and video advertising formats targeting marketers keen to reach out to its two million monthly unique visitors.

Users agree that the stickiness of foursquare – a location-based social networking game – is hard to ignore, but its role as a marketing tool is yet to be found. Adaline Lau reports.

India - Facebook's expansion outside its Californian home base continues, with the company announcing plans to establish an office in Hyderabad, India.

Hong Kong - Following the launch of Google Maps Street View service, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has endorsed the new offering by using it on its Discover Hong Kong website.

Malaysia - Advertlets.com has signed on to be the official online partner for the revamped Miss Universe Malaysia 2010 (MUMO) beauty pageant.

Sebastian Svensson, managing director of Lifestyleasia.com, gives a thumbs up to Johhny Walker, but not the CU MBA spots for the SCMP.

Regional - With five times as many people using search engines and not the Yellow Pages to find a local business, SME advertisers are reevaluating the use of legacy media as a means to reach consumers.

Malaysia - Search giant Google is looking to widen its search for partners in Malaysia for the Google Analytics Authorized Consultant program, after striking similar deals in Singapore.

Regional - Retail in Asia has launched a B2B website that aggregates retail news across the region and aims to provide a platform for professional networking.

Singapore - clickTRUE, a subsidiary of SPH Magazines has launched socialTRUE, a social media tool that helps businesses strengthen their online presence.

Hong Kong - Luxury companies are embracing online advertising in Hong Kong, with the Luxury Insider Group claiming 200% growth in online ad revenue in the past year.

VIDEO - Microsoft Advertising invited Chrissie Chau to front Rock n Roll buddies night, which saw many agency folks show up to support the brand and get a photo with Chau.

Shanghai - GroupM Trading has appointed former leader at Mindshare Andrew Carter to a newly created role as national tactical planning head.

Hong Kong - XM Asia Pacific, a JWT company under WPP, has strengthened its presence in Hong Kong with plans to expand the brand into key markets in the region.

Hong Kong - A viral video masked as revenge attack on an ex-boyfriend has received more than three million hits and doubled traffic to the Perfect C breast enhancer site.

Hong Kong - A consumer generated campaign for electronics giant LG has received more than 7,000 entries, with one Hong Kong candidate hoping to win a US$100,000 travel junket.

BLOG: Here's a statistic that may wake you up - there are more people on Stardoll than there are iPhones in the world, according to Simon Newstead CEO for Frenzoo.com.

Los Angeles - With the Academy Awards just days away, fans online are increasingly discussing the nominees for best picture along with the best performers in a lead role, says Nielsen.

Hong Kong - Wrigley's sugar free gum has made its way to Hong Kong and aims to win the approval of adventurous youths by positioning its 5 Gum product line as sleek and mysterious.

The sixth and seventh stages of the Le Tour De Langkawi Malaysia 2010 make its way through the city centre this weekend - why's it still called Le Tour De Langkawi when the islands never feature in this year's race?

Hong Kong – Hospitality internet consultant Business Creation and mobile solution provider Xtown Mobile have helped 12 hotels in Hong Kong to launch their mobile websites for free.

Malaysia - Tribal Fusion has entered into a strategic partnership with XE.com to exclusively represent and sell all the inventory of the top ranked global site for currency conversions.

Hong Kong - Newspapers and TV are still the leading media for marketers when it comes to budget allocation, with internet spending continuing to dwarf its mainstream rivals.

Hong Kong - Digital design firm Atomic Sushi will cease operations from this month, citing the reason for its closure is to allow its executives to seek new challenges.

Global - Omniture is adding Facebook advertising data to its marketing software, a move that could pave the way for more ad dollars to flow to the social network.