China Tech Innovation Goes Mainstream (Finally)

When progress in China tech innovation hits the main pages of major U.S. metropolitan newspapers, you know the story has gone mainstream.

China, not Silicon Valley, is cutting edge in mobile, reads a headline in the New York Times. The writer Paul Mozur goes to explain that WeChat and Alipay have popularized use of bar codes in China for payments, taxi hailing and food ordering while YY’s video streaming service has made online video stars a common thing.

For years, it’s been argued that Chinese technologists are at their best when copying ideas from the west such as Google, Amazon and YouTube. Chinese entrepreneurs haven’t been highly regarded for innovating.

But as the Times article points out, China’s tech industry has in some ways pulled ahead of the U.S. Facebook, Twitter and others look to China for ideas.
Keep reading Silicon Dragon post at Forbes.