Google Holds Pay-Per-Call Advertising Option

Google's Pay per Call Ads -

Google started testing pay-per-phone-call ads, since Nov '05 . The concept is to get more leads in terms of direct interaction of client with the advertiser.This online advertising model has an edge over the popular pay-per-click ads as results come quickly reducing a intermediate step of form fill up or enquiry generation online.

According to a news from CNN,
But as for now Google has kept his Pay-per-call on hold...for the time being may be..
Google ads that aim to get buyers to pick up the phone are on hold -- at least for now.
Instead, the company is focusing on other types of ads, including ads sent to cell phone users and pay-per-action ads.
Google GOOG wants to find new sources of revenue apart from its text-based pay-per-click ads. Pay-per-click has become a big hit with advertisers because they pay only when a consumer clicks on an ad.
But Google's attempt to include phone calls in its ad service hasn't been as successful. With pay-per-call ads, an advertiser pays each time a consumer calls the company after seeing an ad posted on Google or its partner Web sites.

Full story can be found out here

Forthcoming Internet Problems in 2010

Predict the future of Internet?
Many people say its bright...
Some say its a bit dull...
How about a warning that it will be a infrastructure crisis ?
Dont believe me....

Here is a news from chinadaily.com,

Booming demand for Internet services combined with insufficient infrastructure investment could leave the Web vulnerable to brown outs within three years, a study released Tuesday predicted.
Nemertes Research said Internet providers need to invest from $42 billion to $55 billion -- or 60% to 70% more than current plans call for -- to stave off interruptions to the digital economy that could happen if the Net bogs down. "The next Google, YouTube, or Amazon might not arise" if the situation isn't fixed, Nemertes said.
The problem, the group said, is that bandwidth usage is outpacing infrastructure build outs. While core fiber and switching/routing technology "will scale nicely," Internet access resources could soon be overwhelmed in three to five years, Nemertes said.

Read the complete story here

What is TED?

TED

Ted is an organization, that organizes, a forum every year in California, where scientists, intellectuals, artists, some politicians, techies, let the world know their innovative ideas and amaze the world. As the caption says: "Inspired talks by the world's greatest thinkers and doers"
http://www.ted.com

Every talk is awe inspiring and phenomenal.

Latest Talks on...

1. Larry Brilliant makes the case for optimism
2. Juan Enriquez wants to grow energy
3. David Keith's surprising ideas

I’m going to be all over this. Anyway check it out; if you’re anything like me this will inspire you.

Sabeer Bhatia is back with Live Documents

Bangalore-based InstaColl, co-founded by Sabeer Bhatia, Sumanth Raghavendra and Kaushal Cavale, today launched an application called Live Documents, which is a hybrid online-offline office suite of applications with features similar to Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

In development for the last two years, the product is truly a 'Made in India' product, according to Sabeer Bhatia, chairman, Instacoll.

"I believe Live Documents does what Hotmail (which Bhatia sold to Microsoft for a little over $400 million) did for e-mail," he said.

Sumanth Raghavendra, CEO, Instacoll, said, "The launch of Live Documents will fill all the gaps that Microsoft has not been able to fill, especially in the online category. With its software and services approach, users can access this via a hosted model, on premises servers or use a plug and play appliance."

Read the full story here

Media Penetration : Audio Video Print Online

Mass media in India is that part of the Indian media which aims to reach a wide audience. Besides the news media, which includes print, radio and television, the internet is playing an increasing role, along with the growth of the Indian blogging community.

Media penetration as of 2003
	All India	Urban
Print	25%	46%
Terrestrial television	53%	80%
Cable and satellite television	20%	46%
Radio	22%	25%
Cinema	7%	11%
Internet	1%	3%

Source Wikipedia

According to the news at Alootechie.com,
ETV Network has launched ETVNetmart.com where advertisers can bid and buy commercial airtime on its channels. In order to take part in the bidding process, media planners, advertisers or agencies will have to first register themselves on the site.

ETV Network operates 12 channels — ETV Telugu, ETV 2, ETV Bangla, ETV Marathi, ETV Kannada, ETV Oriya, ETV Gujarati, ETV Urdu, ETV MP / Chhattisgarh, ETV UP / Uttarakhand, ETV Bihar / Jharkhand, and ETV Rajasthan.

Microsoft aiming Numero Uno postiion in Search Marketing

With the sharp rise in Google's online marketing sales and also the earnings starting with a simple search box, many have found it as a acceptable success measure to get revenue at a lower operating costs with the search automation and simplicity in online promotion management.
According to a news,

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. aims to be one of the top two players in the online advertising market in three to five years, a company executive in charge of the business said on Thursday.
The world's largest software maker currently trails Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. in the $40 billion global online advertising market dominated by selling advertising alongside Web search links.

Read the Full story here.

US Presidential Candidate's Online promotion campaign

If we believe in News, there is some Confusion over US Presidential Candidate's Online promotion campaign.

Republican presidential candidate of Mitt Romney who is also the former Massachusetts governor may be surprised or rather worried to see the way his online marketing/ brand building campaign's stats.
Everyone of us could react strange if such a thing could happen to you!

According to according to Nielsen Online,reported to show some banner advertisements of the candidate on a rather irrelevant or objectionable site, which is a major concern for the reputation of the candidate as US elections are coming by.

This is an example of uncontrolled media spend and zero analytics application.
Simply automation of media buys or putting the money which is asked does not fit to a successful online advertisement/ brand building campaign.

Microsoft Office Professional 2007 Prepaid Edition

Do you always wanted a licenced copy of MS Office and cant just afford ?

Here is a Prepaid Option for those who want the autorized copy of the popular desktop software MS Office 2007.

A ChannelTimes news suggests:

Microsoft Office Professional 2007 Prepaid Edition has come to the domestic market. Compared to the original Office suite, this prepaid edition is price wise more affordable to home and small business users. Available as a 6-month subscription for Rs.1,499, the new prepaid model gives customers a flexible and affordable way to buy original the 2007 Microsoft Office. At the end of the 6-month period, 3-month renewable subscriptions will also be available. This is the first time in India that an office productivity suite will be available as a prepaid version.
Full story here

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Curbing the piracy menace, this idea is a good attempt to lure the consumers who are ready to spend something. Not sure if people still go for the same as the time frame seems less for the incurred cost and is only suitable for those who are going to earn something out of it like home based business, small - office - home office and home users.

In other way, this may be one way to fight with Google's free Online Office services.

One more Indian Government site Hacked by an anti-US

Another Hacking activity detected on one of the Government site, causing the hosting providers and the webmasters to re-think on the security issues.

New Delhi: The Goa government was in for an online shock on Saturday when its Information and Publicity Department’s website was hacked allegedly by a Turkish group that posted anti-America slogans on it.The website, which was designed to display information on the details of Goa administration and related information and government schemes was flooded with graphic images of executions and arms seizure.State Information Secretary in-charge J P Singh was quoted as saying by PTI that the matter was a serious one and will be looked into.According to Government watchdog CERTIN, close to 3,000 Indian websites have been hacked this year, 140 in October alone. In September, Google mail accounts of key government officials were tampered with and earlier, passwords and login names of the National Defence Academy and key Indian embassies were splashed by a hacker on this website. Goa police say the alleged hacker Huseyingazi has cross-linked the website to www.turkmilliyetcileri.net which flashes anti-America slogans, police said. One of the comments reads, "United States of America which is feeding on and strengthening behind close doors the universal terrorists is the greatest terrorist country."

Full Story here

Microsoft India's new Windows live launch!

Microsoft India launched the next-generation of Windows Live that enables online and offline environments to blend seamlessly on Nov. 15.Windows Live is designed to enhance the online and Windows on the PC experiences with a set of tools that bring the power of the Web right to the user's PC or mobile device."Internet savvy consumers are relying more and more on the Web to communicate and share with their friends and family, but they are also becoming increasingly frustrated with difficulty to keep track of all e-mail accounts, photos, blogs, address book and other online information.

"Internet savvy consumers are relying more and more on the Web to communicate and share with their friends and family, but they are also becoming increasingly frustrated with difficulty to keep track of all e-mail accounts, photos, blogs, address book and other online information. The launch reflects great enhancements to our most popular Windows Live services – Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Spaces and Windows Live writer while adding new tools such as Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Live Events," Mr Jaspreet Bindra, Country Manager – Online Services Business, Microsoft India, said at a conference.

The full story is here

mobile apps contest for developers

Mobile Challenge for the developers of Applications

Google Code Challege

Cool apps that surprise and delight mobile users, built by developers like you, will be a huge part of the Android vision. To support you in your efforts, Google has launched the Android Developer Challenge, which will provide $10 million in awards -- no strings attached -- for great mobile apps built on the Android platform.

How It Works

The award money will be distributed equally between two Android Developer Challenges:

• Android Developer Challenge I: We will accept submissions from January 2 through March 3, 2008
• Android Developer Challenge II: This part will launch after the first handsets built on the platform become available in the second half of 2008

In the Android Developer Challenge I, the 50 most promising entries received by March 3 will each receive a $25,000 award to fund further development. Those selected will then be eligible for even greater recognition via ten $275,000 awards and ten $100,000 awards.

Build Your Favorite Mobile Application

We welcome all types of applications but are looking to reward innovative, useful apps that make use of Android's capabilities to deliver a better mobile experience. Here are some suggested areas of focus to get you started:

• Social networking
• Media consumption, management, editing, or sharing, e.g., photos
• Productivity and collaboration such as email, IM, calendar, etc.
• Gaming
• News and information
• Rethinking of traditional user interfaces
• Use of mash-up functionality
• Use of location-based services
• Humanitarian benefits
• Applications in service of global economic development
• Whatever you're excited about!

full info here

What they say about .mobi

Google :
"Google is pleased to support mTLD in setting the standards that will define the future of mobile content, and most importantly, improve the experience of our users. Creating one mobile domain encourages content that is designed and optimized specifically to help users navigate the unique environment of the mobile world."

Microsoft:
"Ultimately, dotmobi will enable users to find predictable content and services from the businesses that provide them. This will have a major and significant impact on both the mobile and internet industries."

Nokia:
"Establishing dotmobi is an important milestone. Forming the joint venture company has helped to formalise the work that has been put into the initiative, and we look forward to seeing dotmobi domains benefit all mobile users."

Samsung:"Samsung believes that mTLD will enhance the mobile users' internet experience by providing a mobile friendly domain .mobi. We fully support and want to deliver beneficial products/service to the consumers in the mobile industry. By being a part of mTLD, Samsung believes that these goals can be achieved."

Ericsson:"A mobile top-level domain will bridge the gap between the internet and the mobile users, making content more mobile user friendly. The .mobi domain will simplify the Internet experience using mobile devices. By working across industries, dotmobi will cater for a continuous growth in mobile data and help bringing enriched services to mobile users."

Vodafone:"Vodafone has been a keen supporter of the dotmobi initiative from the very beginning. This new sponsored top level domain will greatly increase the use and discoverability of mobile Internet content and dotmobi sites will guarantee a high quality experience when accessing the Internet from mobile devices. The dotmobi domain will further fuel the growth of the mobile Internet, with more content and service offerings available around the world. This is a great step forward for the mobile Internet and will significantly enhance the consumers’ mobile experience overall."

Hacking in Video Games

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters Life!) - Family groups renewed calls on Friday to clamp down on video game "Manhunt 2" after hackers accessed scenes of bloody killings that were scaled back to let the game go on sale in the United States.
The feat involves modifying Sony Corp's PlayStation Portable device to run an altered version of "Manhunt 2" and led to calls for a more restrictive rating on the game.
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board, the U.S. industry group that polices game content, on Friday defended its decision to give "Manhunt 2" a "Mature" rating, meaning it is suitable for players 17 years and older.
"'Manhunt 2's' rating makes it unmistakable that the game is intended for an older audience. The unauthorized hacking into the code of this game doesn't change that basic fact," ESRB President Patricia Vance said in a statement.

More info here