Kartik Hosanagar - Faculty Research in Knowledge@Wharton

Is Business-centric Social Networking a Revolution -- or a Ruse?

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:47:44 EST

Programs like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn have become a popular way for families and groups of friends (or groups of strangers) to share information and organize their lives. Now corporations are hoping they can tap into those capabilities as a way to improve employee productivity, collaboration and communication on the job -- and a long line of software vendors are hoping to position themselves as the ones to help make the integration of social networking and business a reality. Is it worth the effort?

Risky Business Becomes Riskier: A New Playbook for How Artists Are Compensated

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:29:54 EST

Making a living as an artist has never been easy -- whether in film, music or publishing -- especially now that the digital revolution has transformed the business of content creation. One of the biggest shifts is in how filmmakers, musicians and writers are compensated. The trend is toward greater risk sharing with artists' marketers and publishers, and toward pay being based to a greater degree on how the product sells in the marketplace.

Will Online Streaming Work Out for Netflix?

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:38:32 EST

Once defined by the red envelopes used to deliver DVDs for its mail order service, Netflix has turned its focus toward allowing subscribers to stream movies and other programming directly to their computers and television sets. The move has reaped rewards, including an increasing customer base, but created friction with the entertainment and technology companies Netflix competes with -- and, in many cases, relies on for gaining access to content. Wharton marketing professors Peter Fader and Raghuram Iyengar and operations and information management professor Kartik Hosanagar recently spoke with Knowledge@Wharton about what the future may hold for Netflix.

Surrounded by Rivals, Can Research in Motion -- and the BlackBerry -- Prove That It's Hip to be Square?

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:38:32 EST

Though Research in Motion still occupies a dominant position in the U.S. smartphone market, there are rumblings that the Canadian maker of the BlackBerry -- a phone once so addictive to its predominantly business-centric audience that it gained the nickname "CrackBerry" -- is in danger of being overshadowed by its rivals. Experts say a stronger, better-targeted marketing campaign and a few buzz-worthy new devices would go a long way toward cementing the BlackBerry's popularity with corporate customers and attracting the mass market as well.

Better, Faster, Customizable: Who Will Win the Browser Battle?

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:27:40 EST

In the world of web browsers, it's beginning to look a lot like the 1990s. Back then, the Internet was just starting to become an integral part of daily life and Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer vied for control of the market. This time around, the browser battle includes an increasing number of competitors, most notably Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. Newcomers like RockMelt, a start-up that promises to integrate web browsing with social networking, are banking on innovative new features to stand out. But does winning the browser space mean much in environments -- like mobile devices -- that increasingly focus on standalone web-connected apps?

Power to the People or Just a Fad? Forecasting the Future of Group Buying Sites

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:15:08 EST

Groupon -- from the words "group" and "coupon" -- negotiates deeply discounted deals with businesses and alerts its legion of e-mail subscribers to the offer. Since its founding in 2008, Groupon has amassed 25 million subscribers in 29 countries, and a host of competing sites have crowded the market hoping to tap into the potential of "social" commerce. But are group buying sites just a passing fancy? And what should they do to stand out from the pack and achieve long-term sustainability?

Tablet Wars: Can Rivals Unseat the iPad?

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:15:08 EST

Apple has essentially had the tablet market to itself since April 30, the day the first iPads were sold in the U.S. But that is about to change, as companies including Research in Motion, Samsung, Barnes & Noble and Dell introduce handheld computers of their own. Although Apple's head start is formidable, experts say the iPad is not invincible. But competitors will still face major challenges in cashing in on the tablet craze.

Nokia: Playing Catch Up From the Front

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:30:23 EST

Stephen Elop, Nokia's new CEO, has one tricky to-do list and not much time. Although Nokia is the top mobile device maker in the world, its products are seen as a step behind that of many competitors. To revitalize its brand, Wharton experts say, Nokia must in short order develop smartphones that effectively compete with Apple's iPhone and Google's Android devices, make key decisions on the future of the company's software offerings and establish itself as a player in the United States.

Apple, Google and Others: Vying for Prime Time in the Digital Living Room

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:42:34 EST

On September 1, Apple CEO Steve Jobs launched the latest version of Apple TV, a set-top device that allows viewers to rent movies and TV shows. Meanwhile, Google plans to embed its search and video services on televisions from Sony. And Samsung is developing apps for its TVs and trying to woo software developers. These efforts are all part of the latest attempt to conquer the digital living room, an area that, so far, has failed to make consumers think differently about their viewing habits. Wharton faculty and other experts weigh in on what it would take to make a fully technology-integrated home entertainment ecosystem a reality.

Smartphone Credit Cards: Are U.S. Consumers Ready to Trade In Their Plastic?

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:42:34 EST

AT&T and Verizon are about to throw the dice in a bet that will put billions of dollars on the line. The companies, the two largest mobile phone operators in the United States, are expected to launch a pilot program to see whether their customers are ready to trade credit cards for smartphones equipped with similar swipe technology for making purchases. But will Americans want to put aside their comfortable relationship with plastic credit cards? And can they overcome security concerns about adopting a new payment system? Industry experts weigh in.

Myths and Realities of Being an Entrepreneur in India

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:18:59 EST

During a panel discussion on entrepreneurship at the 14^th Wharton India Economic Forum in Philadelphia in March 2010, entrepreneurs discussed the obstacles to, and opportunities for, startups in India.

Clear and Present Danger: Cyberattacks, Hackers and the Increasing Threat to Information Security

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:14:17 EST

After cyber attacks this year on Google, AT&T and others, experts at Wharton and in the IT industry say information security within organizations is increasingly becoming a concern to top managers and directors. As a result, more and more companies will be approaching information security risks in the same way they deal with other major threats, and in a much more integrated fashion. They may not have a choice, some observers note, given that 75% of organizations recently surveyed say they suffered a security breach in the past year.

Sprint's 4G Advantage: Game Changer or Not Enough to Call Home About?

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:52:02 EST

Sprint has been languishing in a distant third place in the wireless sector. Now it seems to have a chance to gain ground with a hot-selling phone and a fast next-generation data network, the first in the industry to be up and running. But it is far from clear, industry experts say, that Sprint will be able to sign up enough new subscribers to seriously challenge wireless leaders Verizon and AT&T. What's more, the company's first-mover advantage in the 4G world may be short lived -- and, so far, it has not come up with a blockbuster app that would keep it ahead of competitors.

Going Mobile: How iAd and AdMob Move Apple vs. Google to a New Playing Field

Wed, 26 May 2010 16:26:29 EST

What spending in the mobile advertising industry lacks in heft, it more than makes up for in buzz. Witness Google's recent purchase of AdMob, which brings together the two largest mobile ad networks, and Apple's recent efforts to gain a stronger foothold in the market. The battle between the two major players could represent a tipping point for mobile advertising, Wharton experts and others say, and suggests that the sector could become a significant money-maker in the future.

Can Twitter Promote Itself into Profitability?

Wed, 26 May 2010 16:26:29 EST

Last month, Twitter unveiled "Promoted Tweets," a new ad system the company hopes will turn the service into a profitable endeavor. Though much talked about, Twitter faces a set of intertwined business conundrums. How can it help businesses create a level of engagement with consumers that turns tweets into a useful tool for marketing and customer service? How can Twitter then parlay those efforts into a viable, income-producing strategy for itself? Wharton experts and others say finding a successful model for the Promoted Tweet is only one of the challenges the company must overcome to avoid the fate of former "next big things" like Netscape, Excite or Pets.com.

Be There or Be Square: The Rise of Location-based Social Networking

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:36:17 EST

To find the hottest restaurant, bar or concert venue in town, many young adults are no longer checking in with their friends. They're "checking in" virtually via Foursquare, a location-based social networking site. While Foursquare is being touted as the Next Big Thing, experts say the true potential lies in companies knowing exactly where customers are and pitching offers or services based on the spots these customers frequent. The challenge for Foursquare and others, observers suggest, is transitioning beyond buzz and finding uses for geo-targeting that are both profitable and practical.

Will Windows Phone 7 Reboot Microsoft's Mobile Strategy?

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:51:19 EST

Microsoft has a lot riding on Windows Phone 7, the company's attempt to revive its mobile strategy and introduce an operating system that is more consumer friendly. With the move, the software giant is hoping to recapture momentum in a U.S. smartphone market dominated by Apple's iPhone and Research in Motion's BlackBerry, with Google's Android platform quickly gaining buzz. But Wharton experts say it's unclear if the company's latest offering will make Microsoft "phone fashionable" again.

It's a Long Way to 4G Nirvana

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:58:09 EST

Spurred by the data consumption of devices like Apple's iPhone, Motorola's Droid and the latest smartphones, wireless carriers are planning to upgrade their networks. Companies such as Verizon, AT&T and others have announced ambitious plans to make fourth generation (4G) services available to their customers over the next two years, enabling a wide range of new applications involving rich media such as video. Still, experts at Wharton and elsewhere note that 4G will take time to become a mass market phenomenon, in part because wireless spectrum is in short supply.

Apple's iPad: A Gadget Killer -- or Just Another Gadget?

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:52:49 EST

Apple, which brought consumers such hits as the iPod and iPhone, is wading into a new product category with the launch of its iPad, a touch-screen tablet computer that CEO Steve Jobs has said puts "the Internet in your hands" -- and apparently much more. In fact, Apple has positioned the iPad as a universal device that not only functions like a laptop but also can play music, movies and video games, show pictures and hold a library of books. That puts it in direct competition with netbooks and popular single-use gadgets like Amazon's e-book reader, the Kindle. Will iPad be the one device that fits all, or will it just become one more gadget to juggle?

The iPhone in China: Will Apple Connect with the World's Biggest Mobile Market?

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:45:37 EST

Global launches can be rocky, as Apple knows well. Last year, the company introduced its iPhone in India, but instead of the throngs of consumers seen at launch events in the U.S., the journalists assigned to cover the rollout reportedly outnumbered the customers. According to experts, the problems included a lack of marketing and a price tag set too high for Indian consumers. Now, as Apple prepares for an October launch of the iPhone in China in cooperation with service provider China Unicom, many are wondering if it will face similar hang-ups in the world's largest cell phone market.

'Mustaches for Kids': Charities Adopt Private Sector Models to Tap New Funds

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:27:19 EST

In the wake of the global financial crisis, social enterprises are hastening their transition from the traditional donor model to rely more on market mechanisms long established in the private sector. In so doing, organizations hope to not only survive the current recession, but also to create a foundation for long-term sustainability, say Wharton faculty and executives at non-profit institutions.

As Smartphones Proliferate, Will One Company Emerge as the Clear Market Winner?

Wed, 27 May 2009 17:04:13 EST

Just as computer operating systems vied for dominance back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, smartphone makers these days are jostling for market share, hoping that their mix of capabilities -- ranging from web surfing to email to calendar management -- will ensure them a critical mass of customers. What the makers of such mobile devices as the BlackBerry, iPhone and Treo are trying to avoid is the outcome of that earlier race, when one company -- Microsoft -- ended up the dominant player.

No Man Is an Island: The Promise of Cloud Computing

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:13:39 EST

"Cloud computing" promises myriad benefits -- including cost savings on technology infrastructure and faster software upgrades -- for users ranging from small startups to large corporations. That's an auspicious future considering that not everyone agrees on exactly what cloud computing is, or what it can do.

How About Free? The Price Point That Is Turning Industries on Their Heads

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:25:43 EST

Giving products away -- think Adobe Reader or access to online news -- has become a legitimate business model on the Internet and even beyond. Once companies accept that price need not be tied to the cost of production and begin thinking creatively, new possibilities emerge -- even for offline products, according to Wharton faculty and others. Welcome to the world of "freeconomics."

The Net Impact of Netbooks? It Depends on Who Uses Them for What

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:18:24 EST

Small, inexpensive netbooks -- portable computers smaller than notebooks but dependent on the Internet for file-storage and software -- are likely to have a disruptive impact on the PC industry, but there are many questions to resolve, experts say. Will netbooks poach sales of laptops? Are they replacements for smartphones? How will a weak economy affect sales? Will the devices increase the popularity of cloud computing? Stay tuned as this new technology continues to evolve.

File-sharing Networks Return with Legitimate Ways to Share Music -- and Make Money

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:31:38 EST

After the U.S. Supreme Court declared in 2005 that Internet file-sharing sites Grokster and StreamCast had illegally aided their customers' efforts to share pirated copies of copyrighted music and video files, many commentators predicted the demise of businesses that depended on online file-sharing. But new start-ups say they have found ways to make peer-to-peer (often called P2P) file-sharing legal and perhaps profitable. Still, their business plans need tweaking, according to a paper published recently by Wharton professor Kartik Hosanagar and two University of Washington colleagues. One suggestion: The networks should sometimes be willing to pay more than they get for content.

Getting Engaged: Advertisers Search for Their Voices on YouTube

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:52:07 EST

The video-sharing site YouTube is currently running a comedy sketch contest sponsored by Toyota's 2009 Corolla. It's just one of the latest examples of companies using this advertising hot spot to target customers who spend a lot of their time watching online videos. But finding a home in the medium is not so easy, Wharton professors say. In a digital world of instant feedback and ruthless honesty, a company can either score major brand points or look as ridiculous as any adult trying to hang with the cool kids.

The Experts vs. the Amateurs: A Tug of War over the Future of Media

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:57:40 EST

A tug of war over the future of media may be brewing between so-called user-generated content -- including amateurs who produce blogs, video and audio for public consumption -- and professional journalists, movie makers and record labels, along with the deep-pocketed companies that back them. The ultimate outcome: a hybrid approach that features entirely new business models, say experts at Wharton.

For New CEO John Donahoe, 'It's eBay's Game to Lose'

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:51:11 EST

On January 29, online auctioneer eBay unveiled plans to revamp the fees it charges sellers, reduce fraud and increase the volume of transactions. It's the first move by CEO-elect John Donahoe, who will take over the reins of eBay on March 31 in the wake of long-time CEO Meg Whitman's announcement that she plans to step down. Donahoe's mission is to reinvigorate a company that remains dominant in online auctions, but is vulnerable to increased competition from both large and small rivals. Wharton faculty and others offer Donahoe a game plan for moving forward.

Marketing Presidential Candidates on the Web Goes Mainstream: But Does It Get Votes?

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:30:15 EST

The January 3 Iowa caucuses and the January 8 New Hampshire primary showcased the 2008 presidential campaign's ongoing political dogfight as candidates battled for their parties' nominations. Under the surface, however, the scrum represents a tipping point in the use of the Internet as a campaign tool, say experts at Wharton. In many respects, the 2008 race resembles any sophisticated Internet marketing campaign that lets consumers swap information, connect with friends and perhaps make a purchase -- or, in this case, a donation. Indeed, selling a candidate may not be much different than selling any other high-end item, although possibly less effective.

Google: In Search of Itself

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:20:43 EST

In a span of four days earlier this month, Google launched an initiative to enable social networking tools to work across dozens of web sites and rounded up 33 partners to develop software to power a new generation of cell phones. While these efforts illustrate Google's determination to keep expanding its territory, they also increase the challenges faced by the $200 billion company. And they pose a question that seems to crop up more and more these days: Where is Google headed?

Software's Future: Melding the Web and the Desktop

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:08:31 EST

It's been a busy few weeks for Adobe Systems, Microsoft and Google. All three have announced plans or new technologies that will address the latest vision of software's future -- one that combines the features of web-based applications with desktop software to create a hybrid model offering the best of both worlds. Indeed, the question today is not so much whether this desktop/webtop model will be adopted, but rather, which company will provide the best platform for implementing it. Knowledge@Wharton looks at both the opportunities and the limitations of this new approach.

'Reinforcing the Blockbuster Nature of Media': The Impact of Online Recommenders

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:47:58 EST

Online retailers may be shooting themselves in the tail -- the long tail, that is, according to Kartik Hosanagar, Wharton professor of operations and information management, and Dan Fleder, a Wharton doctoral candidate, in new research on the "recommenders" that many of these retailers use on their websites. Recommenders -- perhaps the best known is Amazon's -- tend to drive consumers to concentrate their purchases among popular items rather than allow them to explore and buy whatever piques their curiosity, the two scholars suggest in a working paper titled, "Blockbuster Culture's Next Rise or Fall: The Impact of Recommender Systems on Sales Diversity."

Career Crisis: Monster.com Has Choices to Make as It Approaches 'Middle Age'

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:47:58 EST

When the Internet was young, pioneering online job recruitment firm Monster.com rocked the way people look for work. Now, Monster itself has hit a rocky patch, marked by the resignation of three top officers, a major security breach and the rise of new competitors, including Craigslist. According to Wharton faculty and analysts, Monster is confronting the "middle age" that all veteran firms of the Internet's early days must face. The company remains a force in employment advertising, they say, but as it settles into maturity, Monster must find new ways to protect its established markets and expand overseas.

Who's the Winner in the Tug-of-War between 'Walled Garden' and 'Open Plain' Strategies?

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:46:23 EST

In August, less than three months after the introduction of Apple's iPhone, a New Jersey teen announced that he had "hacked" into the mobile-communications device. The hacker was clearly expressing the frustration that many consumers feel towards Apple for adopting a "walled garden" -- as opposed to an "open architecture" or "open plain" -- corporate strategy. While the walled garden approach often restricts consumers' ability to modify devices or marry them with other firms' products and services, the open architecture approach has its drawbacks as well. Wharton faculty and others look at the advantages and disadvantages -- for both consumers and companies -- of these two strategies.

Some Free Advice for Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:40:29 EST

Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang is about to find out that being a CEO is a lot different than being the ceremonious Chief Yahoo, as he was called until last month. Yang, who became Yahoo's new CEO on June 18, faces a daunting to-do list that includes reinvigorating the company, closing a performance gap with Google, thwarting challenges from social media sites such as Facebook, delivering financial results that make Wall Street cheer and charting a course for the future. His first deadline comes in about 100 days. Knowledge@Wharton asked faculty members for advice on how Yang should handle this management challenge.

Media Moves: Will the New Online Advertising Models Click?

Wed, 30 May 2007 15:38:15 EST

Microsoft buys aQuantive; Google acquires DoubleClick for $3.1 billion; Yahoo purchases the 80% of Right Media it doesn't already own, and ad firm WPP gets 24/7 Real Media for $649 million. And that's just in the last six weeks. The common thread: All the takeover targets are online advertising companies. The race to consolidate the online advertising industry is heating up at the same time that advertisers are demanding more return on their marketing dollars. Wharton professors and others analyze how this will play out for tech companies, ad companies and consumers.

Wireless Broadband Utopia: Are We There Yet?

Wed, 16 May 2007 15:58:25 EST

The wireless broadband pieces appear to be falling in place: Sprint Nextel says its next-generation high-speed network will be launched in a few markets by the end of 2007. Intel plans to embed so-called "WiMAX" enabled semiconductors in laptops by the end of 2008, and startups like Craig McCaw's Clearwire hope to blanket much of the nation with WiMAX service. Other companies are supporting hybrid wireless networks so that devices can hop between technologies. Where is all this heading, and what does it mean for the "Anywhere Consumer"?

All Politics Is Local, and So Are Sales Leads: The Birth of an Internet Search Company

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:05:25 EST

Some technology companies have been founded in a garage. Local Internet search company Natpal was hatched in a Connecticut car dealership. That's where Wharton undergraduate student and future Natpal CEO Nate Stevens first realized that Internet search wasn't exactly friendly to small businesses looking for sales leads. The discovery led Stevens, along with Penn alumnus Ben Rubenstein and Wharton professor Kartik Hosanagar, to found Natpal, which brings local businesses online and helps them find sales leads via web searches. The goal is not just clicks, but phone calls, says Stevens.

At Google, the Search Is On for a New Approach to Old Media

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:51:20 EST

Viacom and CBS have pulled videos from Google's YouTube. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently requested that some Oscar footage be taken down from YouTube as well. And Google's efforts to sell radio and print advertising have not met expectations. In short, Google's ability to navigate the traditional media landscape doesn't seem to be going particularly well. What's the problem? While Google has the resources to create deals with content companies, it still must contend with a number of confounding crosscurrents, including content owners' concerns over intellectual property and a clash of advertising models.

Why Software Business Models of the Future Probably Won't Come in a Box

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:59:14 EST

Microsoft's Vista operating system should give the company a revenue stream that will run for years, but experts at Wharton say the January 30 launch of the consumer versions of Microsoft's flagship software may be among the last of its kind -- a product sold for a flat fee in a shrink-wrapped box. Indeed, many wonder if the software business model that has made Microsoft so dominant may begin to fade as new software business models -- from open source to advertising supported -- gain increasing traction.

The Succession Question at Tech Firms: When's the Right Time to Go?

Wed, 03 May 2006 15:07:25 EST

The recent resignation of Scott McNealy as CEO of Sun Microsystems, the company he founded 22 years ago, is another milestone in the succession process of a large technology company. But tech companies often pose unique succession issues, in part because of their unusually fast growth and young founders, according to Wharton faculty and technology experts. The challenges are especially critical when the entrepreneurs are celebrities, and when the company has grown large enough that broad-based management skills become as crucial as entrepreneurial passion.