Hello Andrei and Julian. I have a query. You categorized Xbox and Playstation consoles as platforms. They enable users to play games produced by third-party developers for those consoles. However, both the consoles do not allow the third-party developers to interact with the end users directly, which is a core characteristic of a platform. Both Sony and Microsoft do not allow that direct interaction. Pls educate me how Xbox and Playstation consoles are platforms.
Developers sell their games to end-users "directly" via the console app stores (or via retail stores). That means they control the terms of the sale, as opposed to the platforms controlling them - for the most part.
Hi Prof. Hagiu and Prof. Wright: Thanks for the wonderful and thought-provoking article. The article presents examples of B2B platforms (MetalsHub). However, the article also emphasizes that without end-users affiliation, network effects (a key characteristic of platforms) can't be generated. B2B platforms may not, in general, have connections with their customers' customers. Can you shed some light on why B2B platforms should be called platforms at all?
Because they can connect business buyers with other business sellers (like Metal Hub). Sure, the business buyers may have their own customers and the platform may not have any connection with those end-customers, but they are connecting buyers and sellers nonetheless.
Hey Professors, What do you think about Ke Holdings INC, a Nasdaq listed Chinese home selling company. Do you think it's a classic type of platform business or not? In the early stage of business not only gathers home selling information from the developer(1st hand) and property owner(2nd hand) to the potential buyers, it also controls the process of property transaction between buyers and sellers. Nowadays, it also facilitates information sharing between brokers on the platform and enhances efficiency and transaction possibility between the broker that has buyers and one that has sellers, vice versa. Thank you.
Hi YC, I don't really know what KE does but from a quick look at their website, it seems that it has a brokerage part and other services. I don't think traditional brokerages are primarily platform businesses. They mainly provide infrastructure, information and support to their brokers/agents, who then facilitate connections between buyers and sellers. And the other services provided by KE don’t really seem to be platform businesses either. There may be some element of platform, but doesn't seem to be the main thing.
Hello Andrei and Julian. I have a query. You categorized Xbox and Playstation consoles as platforms. They enable users to play games produced by third-party developers for those consoles. However, both the consoles do not allow the third-party developers to interact with the end users directly, which is a core characteristic of a platform. Both Sony and Microsoft do not allow that direct interaction. Pls educate me how Xbox and Playstation consoles are platforms.
Developers sell their games to end-users "directly" via the console app stores (or via retail stores). That means they control the terms of the sale, as opposed to the platforms controlling them - for the most part.
Thanks Andrei
Hi Prof. Hagiu and Prof. Wright: Thanks for the wonderful and thought-provoking article. The article presents examples of B2B platforms (MetalsHub). However, the article also emphasizes that without end-users affiliation, network effects (a key characteristic of platforms) can't be generated. B2B platforms may not, in general, have connections with their customers' customers. Can you shed some light on why B2B platforms should be called platforms at all?
Thanks,
Ritwick
Because they can connect business buyers with other business sellers (like Metal Hub). Sure, the business buyers may have their own customers and the platform may not have any connection with those end-customers, but they are connecting buyers and sellers nonetheless.
Hey Professors, What do you think about Ke Holdings INC, a Nasdaq listed Chinese home selling company. Do you think it's a classic type of platform business or not? In the early stage of business not only gathers home selling information from the developer(1st hand) and property owner(2nd hand) to the potential buyers, it also controls the process of property transaction between buyers and sellers. Nowadays, it also facilitates information sharing between brokers on the platform and enhances efficiency and transaction possibility between the broker that has buyers and one that has sellers, vice versa. Thank you.
YC
Hi YC, I don't really know what KE does but from a quick look at their website, it seems that it has a brokerage part and other services. I don't think traditional brokerages are primarily platform businesses. They mainly provide infrastructure, information and support to their brokers/agents, who then facilitate connections between buyers and sellers. And the other services provided by KE don’t really seem to be platform businesses either. There may be some element of platform, but doesn't seem to be the main thing.