Kevin Werbach - Faculty Research in Knowledge@Wharton

All That Twitters Isn't Gold: A Popular Web Application in Search of a Business Plan

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:21:37 EST

The world may be buzzing about Twitter, but will the San Francisco-based messaging service with the high cool factor ever be a money maker? Or will it operate at a perpetual loss, as one Wall Street analyst suggested, "until the next cool Web 2.0 social networking concept comes along and Twitter tweets no more."

New Rules for a New Age: Creating an 'Economic Stimulus Agency' out of the FCC

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:13:39 EST

Wharton legal studies and business ethics professor Kevin Werbach recently worked with the Obama administration's transition team on a review of the Federal Communications Commission and related technology and telecommunications issues. In an interview with Knowledge@Wharton, he says that advances in technology and the urgent need to restart the economy require the commission to rethink its role -- not just as a regulator, but as an agency that creates jobs and encourages investment.

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."

A World Transformed: What Are the Top 30 Innovations of the Last 30 Years?

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:51:20 EST

Is it possible to determine which 30 innovations have changed life most dramatically during the past 30 years? That is the question that Nightly Business Report, the Emmy Award-winning PBS business program, and Knowledge@Wharton set out to answer to celebrate NBR's 30^th anniversary this year. The list includes innovations from the world of technology, health care, energy and even finance. Can you guess which one is No. 1?

Will Its 'Chrome' Web Browser Put a Shine on Google's Long-term Strategy?

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:08:01 EST

Casual observers may have concluded that Google's introduction this week of its 'Chrome' web browser was a direct assault on the dominance of Microsoft's Explorer. But Wharton professors David Hsu and Kevin Werbach see a longer-term strategy at work.

War of the Words: Scrabulous Is off Facebook, but Did Hasbro Win the Game?

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:34:27 EST

Scrabble -- the board game in which you compete with other players in making words -- has become a familiar household name since it was introduced in 1948. Its unofficial online double, Scrabulous, has become one of the most popular applications on Facebook since it was launched in July 2007. Now, both games are making waves as Hasbro, the copyright holder for Scrabble in the U.S. and Canada, has filed a lawsuit against the creators of Scrabulous -- following which Scrabulous was yanked off Facebook in late July. But in today's fast-changing social networking environment, Hasbro's lawsuit and its attempt to control its online image may not be the right move, Wharton faculty say.

Betting on Betas: How Internet Entrepreneurs Are Creating New Paths to Online Revenue

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:40:28 EST

Some Internet entrepreneurs are blazing new trails to real revenue in the virtual world. In the examples that emerged from the recent Supernova conference, an annual technology event in San Francisco organized by Wharton professor Kevin Werbach, these models have something in common: building long-term relationships with customers.

'Not a Site, but a Concept': Tapping the Power of Social Networking

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:41:19 EST

Companies like Hewlett-Packard, Ernst & Young and Del Monte Pet Foods have more in common than one may think: They are all savvy participants in the growing trend of consumers' use of social networking technologies to access information and get what they need. According to speakers at the recent Supernova conference in San Francisco, too few companies study how people actually interact with the Internet and utilize online collaborative tools, and are therefore not using the social networking phenomenon to their advantage.

Privacy on the Web: Is It a Losing Battle?

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:40:07 EST

What if you visited an investment site and found advertising messages suggesting therapies for your recently diagnosed heart condition? Chances are you would experience what Fran Maier, executive director of TrustE, a nonprofit advocate of online privacy, calls the "creepiness factor." Maier and several others discussed the challenges of maintaining online privacy -- amid rising Internet use and plummeting costs of data storage and tracking -- at the recent Supernova conference in San Francisco.

Google's Joe Kraus on How to Make the Web More Social

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:25:47 EST

Joe Kraus, director of product management at Google, believes every killer app on the web -- instant messaging, e-mail, blogging, photo-sharing -- has succeeded because it helps people connect with one another. For Kraus, this means the Internet has an inherently social character, but it can be enhanced further. Wharton legal studies professor Kevin Werbach spoke with Kraus recently about the socialization of the Internet. Kraus will speak about social computing at the Supernova conference in San Francisco on June 16.

Microsoft's Vista: New Horizon or the End of the Road for PC Operating Systems?

Wed, 14 May 2008 17:05:58 EST

After Microsoft announced on May 3 that it will drop its $44.6 billion bid to acquire Yahoo, many -- including experts at Wharton -- declared the decision to be a smart move. Microsoft, they say, has more pressing issues, including the need to make its flagship operating system Vista more popular among customers as it competes for attention against its predecessor, Windows XP, and rivals such as Apple's OS X.

Mergers in the Air? Microsoft/Yahoo and Delta/Northwest

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:54:55 EST

The ongoing takeover battle between Microsoft and Yahoo has taken several surprising turns over the past few weeks. After rejecting Microsoft's unsolicited $44.6 billion offer in late February, Yahoo has announced a two-week ad testing program with its main search rival, Google, and has reportedly entertained a possible merger with Time Warner's AOL. Meanwhile, Microsoft was rumored to be considering News Corp. as a possible ally in acquiring Yahoo. While spectators wait for the next twist in this saga, another headline-making deal has been announced: a merger between Delta and Northwest Airlines to become the world's largest airline. Knowledge@Wharton spoke with Wharton management professor Saikat Chaudhuri and Wharton legal studies and business ethics professor Kevin Werbach to find out whether these deals make sense and for whom.

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.

Scrabulous and the New Social Operating System: How Facebook Gave Birth to an Industry

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:49:57 EST

Most industries do not begin on a single day, but it's easy to see Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's presentation on May 24, 2007, as the starting gun in an entrepreneurial race that some have dubbed "the Facebook Economy." Zuckerberg announced that the social networking site would open to third-party developers, transforming itself into a platform on which other businesses can operate. Eight months later, more than 14,000 applications from third-party developers are live on Facebook, including Scrabulous, an online version of the word game Scrabble. But Scrabulous, one of Facebook's biggest hits, may also become a victim of its own success.

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?

Move Over, Beanie Babies, Webkinz Are Coming to a Store -- and Virtual World -- Near You

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:42:32 EST

If you don't yet know about the Webkinz craze, you soon will, especially if you have children of your own or at least know one or two on your block. Webkinz are essentially stuffed animal "pets," but what makes them different from other hot toys of years gone by -- Cabbage Patch Kids, Beanie Babies, Tickle Me Elmo and even the century-old teddy bear -- is the business model behind them. By melding the old-fashioned bricks-and-mortar world of toy retailing with an opportunity to participate in an online community, Webkinz taps into the kiddie zeitgeist and shows a deep understanding of how to use the concept of virtual worlds to full advantage, according to marketing experts at Wharton and elsewhere.

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.

Rivals Set Their Sights on Microsoft Office: Can They Topple the Giant?

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:17:32 EST

It's open season on Microsoft Office. Google is distributing Sun Microsystems' StarOffice and also has its own web-based productivity suite. Apple has a new spreadsheet called Numbers to compete with Microsoft's Excel. Open source suite OpenOffice, along with several web-based products, are attacking as well. All these challengers emerge at a time when Microsoft's dominance in productivity software -- Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel -- remains strong. So why try to overthrow the leader? And how vulnerable is Microsoft to this assault?

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"?

Martin Varsavsky on How U.S. Tech Firms Differ from Their European Counterparts

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:27:16 EST

Martin Varsavsky's fans see him as a rebel who has often disrupted the telecommunications industry. An Argentine/Spanish entrepreneur who has launched seven companies in the past 20 years, Varsavsky's current venture is FON, which he describes as a "community-empowered company dedicated to building the world's largest global WiFi network." He has a few partners helping him get there -- Skype, eBay and Google. In a podcast interview with Kevin Werbach, a professor of legal studies and ethics at Wharton, Varsavsky discusses how he invented the "call back" (a cheap way of making international phone calls), the differences between American and European technology companies, and several other issues. Varsavsky will speak at the Supernova conference that will be held in San Francisco on June 20-22.

Web vs. Print: Online Successes at One Newspaper Raise More Questions Than They Answer

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:13:23 EST

The newsroom at washingtonpost.com, the website of The Washington Post, is not so different from that of a print newspaper, with one notable exception: At a time when newsrooms across the country have empty desks from recent buyouts and layoffs, staff numbers here are expanding to fill every available nook and cranny. Washingtonpost.com is a success story in an industry where the divide between vibrant online ventures and shrinking print products is increasingly sharp. But even the Post has no idea how long that success will last, how much money it can make from the venture, or who exactly its competition is.

Verizon's High-Speed Network: If They Build It, Will You Come?

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:21:30 EST

Verizon is betting billions of dollars on a new fiber-optic network that could transform it from a telephone company to a cutting-edge technology player. If the strategy works, the company could leapfrog over rivals, such as AT&T and Comcast, by offering faster Internet service and potentially richer video on demand. But if Verizon's fast network fails to entice consumers, the company will have created a multi-billion-dollar boondoggle. Wharton faculty and others examine the two different scenarios.

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.

To Diversify, or Not to Diversify: What's at Stake for Online Giants in Growth Mode

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 15:19:43 EST

Amazon plans to sell computing power like a utility company sells electricity. Google is building a suite of productivity software programs connected to the web to take on Microsoft. And Yahoo has launched or acquired so many properties that they run the risk of competing with each other. Such efforts could represent new growth areas and smart diversification moves. Or they could prove to be costly distractions. The big question: Should a company stay focused on its core competencies, or should it diversify to keep up with, or attempt to surpass, its peers?

Online Companies Want a Piece of Old-style Media Business

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 15:45:38 EST

After conquering the advertising frontier in cyberspace, Google, Yahoo and eBay are now turning to traditional media for future growth by brokering ad sales for offline media like radio, television and print. The Internet players' foray into offline advertising could drive down rates, but advertisers and media companies may not completely abandon the current system of relationship-based sales for Internet auctions, according to Wharton faculty and industry executives.

Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD: Knocking Each Other Out?

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:21:19 EST

High definition televisions are expected to be hot sellers this holiday season, but consumers are likely to have a tough time sorting out the newest generation video discs and the players that go with them. The culprit: Two competing high definition DVD formats -- Blu-ray and HD-DVD -- and no sign of a clear winner.

'Smart Growth': Innovating to Meet the Needs of the Market without Feeding the Beast of Complexity

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:12:26 EST

As companies struggle to innovate in today's competitive environment, they need to continually guard against adding to their "clutter" -- the creeping impact of complexity on efficiency and cost-competitiveness. In this three-part special report, experts from Wharton and George Group Consulting discuss how management can approach this problem by thinking "ambidextrously" -- that is, focusing on innovation and broad exploration while minimizing the impact of clutter on operational processes and costs. Also, in the accompanying podcast (with transcript), Mike McCallister, CEO of Humana, discusses balancing innovation and complexity in the health care industry with Wharton management professor Michael Useem and Stephen Wilson, engagement director in George Group's Conquering Complexity practice.

To Blog or Not to Blog: Report from the Front

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:48:45 EST

Kevin Werbach, Wharton professor of legal studies and business ethics, is a dedicated blogger, especially when it comes to technology news and innovation. He sifts through 300 to 400 blogs using NetNewsWire for the Mac, a blog management tool that allows him to quickly scan new posts. "I look for blogs that tell me something I don't already know, including in areas where I am an expert," he says. Knowledge@Wharton asked several faculty members and technology experts to comment on the appeal and usefulness -- or lack thereof -- of blogs.

Unwitting Exposure: Does Posting Personal Information Online Mean Giving Up Privacy?

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 14:39:32 EST

People who access the Internet for what have become routine functions -- sending emails, writing blogs, and posting photos and information about themselves on social networking sites -- do not realize how much of their personal privacy they put at risk, according to Wharton faculty and legal experts. Nor, they add, have the courts fully addressed the ways in which the Internet can be harnessed for questionable purposes that encroach on privacy.

Podcast: Online Music and Movies: Which of the New Digital Entertainment Models Offers the Best Value?

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 15:52:35 EST

It's been an exciting couple weeks for fans of digital downloads of music and movies, with Microsoft's official announcement of its Zune portable music player along with the Zune Marketplace download service; Apple's announcement of several new models of its iPod music player and the new availability of movie downloads from iTunes; and Amazon.com's introduction of its "Unbox" service offering rent-or-own movie downloads. Knowledge@Wharton spoke with Wharton marketing professor Peter Fader and legal studies and business ethics professor Kevin Werbach to find out which of these approaches will deliver the best entertainment options to consumers and the most value for their companies' shareholders.

Losing Their Cool: The Downside of Expanding Hot Social Networking Sites

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 15:51:08 EST

Facebook, a social networking site known as an online meeting place for college and high school students, is opening its doors to more people in an effort to grow beyond its current nine million registered users. Could such a move end up blurring the company's focus and diluting its brand? Are there better ways to expand?

The Move to Vertical Product Integration: Can Microsoft Succeed Here, Too?

Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:30:41 EST

Given Microsoft's efforts to create a music player and service, dubbed "Zune," and its offer of design assistance to PC makers in preparation for the company's new Vista operating system, it appears that the software giant is increasingly dabbling in hardware and playing a bigger role in product design. The big question is: Why? While some analysts dismiss Microsoft's efforts as Apple envy, experts at Wharton say there is a bigger picture. Microsoft wants more control over integrating its software with the gadgets that could open new markets. Its real mission: Find new vertical markets to dominate so it can continue to grow even if its Windows monopoly erodes.

Something Old, Something New: How Will Microsoft's Changing of the Guard Play Out?

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 15:11:00 EST

Ray Ozzie is in. Bill Gates is heading out (but not entirely). And Steve Ballmer is staying right where he is (at least for now). What does this game of musical chairs among the members of Microsoft's high command portend for the world's biggest software company? Far from being a source of confusion and uncertainty, Gates' recently announced decision that he will relinquish his full-time, day-to-day involvement in the company in July 2008 may be just the breath of fresh air needed for a firm facing major challenges to its core business, according to Wharton experts. At the same time, it's not yet clear just how successful Gates will be in removing himself from a company that has been his life for three decades.

Podcast: Autonomy's Michael Lynch on Meaning-based Computing

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 18:59:37 EST

Almost everyone these days will agree that an organization's intellectual capital or knowledge assets are as important as its physical assets. The challenge of how to track, organize and use knowledge assets, however, is easier said than done. How can companies tackle this challenge? Michael Lynch, founder and CEO of Autonomy, a company with offices in Cambridge, England, and San Francisco, believes that his company's technology can help organizations extract meaning from reams of unstructured data. Autonomy even has a name for this process -- meaning-based computing. Lynch and Kevin Werbach, a Wharton professor of legal studies and business ethics, who has written extensively on this subject, spoke with Knowledge@Wharton editor Mukul Pandya about these issues.

Getting a Fix on Network Neutrality

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 18:59:45 EST

On June 8, the House of Representatives squashed an amendment that would prevent telecommunications companies from charging Internet content companies more to deliver enhanced services, such as high quality audio and video content. The amendment would have required "network neutrality," an often-debated term that means different things to different people. To its supporters, like Google, Yahoo and eBay, it means that telecommunications companies should be required to treat all Internet traffic -- whether bandwidth-hogging video or a brief email message -- the same. To companies like Verizon and AT&T, imposing network neutrality would mean that they could not charge for enhanced services on networks that cost them billions of dollars to build. Experts from Wharton and elsewhere weigh in on the issue.

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.

Podcast: Wharton's Kevin Werbach Speaks with IBM's David Yaun about the Global Innovation Outlook

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 17:26:27 EST

Kevin Werbach, a professor of legal studies and business ethics at Wharton, spoke recently with David Yaun, an IBM executive, about the company's Global Innovation Outlook project. According to Yaun, "traditionally, companies have identified innovation with gadgets and gizmos, but that thinking is being transformed." The definition of innovation is being broadened -- it is becoming more open, collaborative, global and inter-disciplinary. "The barriers to innovation and collaboration have come down dramatically," Yaun says. This was the second in a series of interviews about themes to be featured at Supernova, a conference Werbach organizes in collaboration with Wharton in San Francisco.

Prime Time No More: The Television Industry Struggles Against Digital Distribution Upstarts

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 17:06:25 EST

It's open season on the television industry's business model. In recent years, the three pillars of the industry's profits -- advertising, regional programming and syndication deals -- have come under fire from a band of technology companies, including Sling Media, TiVo, Orb Networks and Apple Computer, that are rewriting the content distribution rules. As one Wharton professor notes, TV won't necessarily be viewed via TV anymore. What are the dangers and opportunities of digital distribution? How easily can the big media companies adapt to new technologies, and can they continue to attract viewers who spend more time these days on the web than with their remote controls?

Podcast: What Makes an Online Community Tick? Ask Craigslist, Yahoo and Pheedo

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 15:54:43 EST

Online communities have become not just a major social force, but a significant driver of business activity both online and offline. Facilitating, nurturing and benefiting from those communities, however, is not a simple task. To explore what makes these communities tick, Kevin Werbach, a professor of legal studies and business ethics at Wharton, spoke with Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist.com, Julie Herendeen, vice president of Network Products at Yahoo, and William Flitter, CMO of Pheedo.

Battle over Blackberry: Is the U.S. Patent System Out of Whack?

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 08:41:46 EST

On Friday, February 24, the long-running patent dispute between Research In Motion, which makes the popular BlackBerry wireless email and communications device, and NTP, a holding company that claims RIM technology infringes on its patents, will finally have its day in court. That's when a federal judge will consider a possible injunction that would effectively shut down BlackBerry service in the U.S. But perhaps just as important as the specific facts of this case are the broader questions it raises: For example, could RIM be shut down even as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is re-evaluating several of the disputed patents? Is the patent office bogged down with so many patent applications that it can no longer function effectively? Are companies abusing the original intent of patent law? And can a system that in 1977 permitted a patent for a "comb over" -- technically a "method of styling hair to cover partial baldness using only the hair on a person's head" -- keep up with technological innovation?

Ben Franklin Forum on Innovation: How Companies Use Innovation to Build Value

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 10:29:28 EST

Every company worth its balance sheet swears it believes in innovation. In practice, though, the way different organizations approach innovation varies widely. How do companies identify new ideas that eventually turn into products? How do they identify and overcome barriers to innovation? How do they build an innovative culture? Knowledge@Wharton asked these questions and more to participants at the Ben Franklin Forum on Innovation held recently in Philadelphia. These included experts from Wharton and the Boston Consulting Group, as well as executives from companies such as Procter & Gamble, IDEO, Intel and Microsoft, among others. In this series of podcast interviews, these experts explain how they think about innovation and its challenges.

Yahoo's Strategy: Stay Out of Microsoft's Crosshairs?

Wed, 14 Dec 2005 16:41:41 EST

Yahoo defines itself as "a leading global Internet communications, commerce and media company" and, in doing so, has managed to stay somewhat out of the fray as giants like Google and Microsoft battle each other over everything from search dominance to providing a platform for next-generation web development. In fact, Yahoo's position as primarily a media company is likely to keep it quietly at the forefront of the next generation of world wide web players, say experts at Wharton. Even more importantly, they add, the strategy could give Yahoo a clever way to compete -- by targeting multiple areas, such as music, search and e-commerce -- without riling its major competitors.

Will the Online Book Publishing Flap Rewrite Copyright Law?

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 16:49:25 EST

The latest frontier in the digital content revolution -- efforts by Google, Amazon and others to turn millions of books into bytes that can be easily searched, accessed and sold by the page -- could redefine copyright law and change the way knowledge is shared around the world, say experts at Wharton. Prompted by Google's controversial move to scan copyrighted works, the issue leaves many unresolved questions: Does the greater good of putting books online outweigh current copyright law? Is Google's complete scanning a violation of copyright law even if the end user doesn't get much more than a small excerpt of the work in a search result? Should Google be required to get publishers' permission before scanning content? Perhaps most importantly, is copyright law designed for printed materials still valid in the digital age?

AOL: In Search of a New Strategy

Wed, 02 Nov 2005 16:31:57 EST

America Online is once again the center of Time Warner's growth strategy, and this go around there are a number of potential partners -- ranging from Microsoft and Google to Yahoo and Comcast -- reportedly interested in buying a minority stake. Yet to be determined is how the latest AOL business model, which includes both dial-up Internet access and advertising, will evolve. For example, what can AOL create that's unique? How can it reap profits from its instant messaging dominance? How will it convince its customers to stick with AOL as broadband Internet access grows in popularity? And why is Time Warner looking to sell a stake in AOL? Wharton and other experts weigh in on AOL's future.

Why Is Microsoft Afraid of Google?

Wed, 19 Oct 2005 16:43:39 EST

In the few short years of its existence, Google has come a long way, simultaneously striking fear in the hearts of major players in the computer industry and also arousing their curiosity. While the company is keeping all competitors on their toes, it poses a special threat to one particular company -- Microsoft. Why? Because Google's existing and potential products -- as well as those of other firms -- raise the specter that Microsoft may witness an erosion of its control over the platform for the next generation of software application development, according to Wharton faculty members who follow the technology sector. Just how serious is this threat and what is Microsoft doing to combat it?

eBay Calling Skype: Is It a Good Connection?

Mon, 21 Nov 2005 14:55:23 EST

When online auctioneer eBay announced its intentions last week to buy Internet communications services provider Skype in a potential $4.1 billion deal that will consolidate three of the biggest Internet brands -- eBay, PayPal and Skype -- under one roof, the questions began. What, people are asking, is the rationale behind the acquisition, and isn't $4.1 billion a bit steep? After all, it takes some imagination to see how eBay's e-commerce activities -- auctions and payment systems -- will be combined with Skype, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and PC-to-PC calling company that has signed up 54 million users globally in a little more than two years.

The Hype over Skype: Can It Go the Distance?

Wed, 07 Sep 2005 15:24:58 EST

Although Skype, which provides Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony services and PC-to-PC calling, turns two years old on August 29, it remains unclear what kind of business this relative newcomer will turn out to be. Skype could remain a mere fad for techies, become a next-generation communications platform or evolve into the next eBay or Google, say Wharton experts. What's certain, however, is that Skype, which has offices in Estonia, London, San Francisco, Korea and Japan, is worth watching. As of August 4, its software had been downloaded nearly 145 million times and the company claims to have 47 million people using its services. Skype is an "underappreciated phenomenon in telecom," says one Wharton professor.

New Technology: Who's in Charge?

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 12:01:26 EST

Is technology a blessing or a curse -- or both? While technology enables individuals to receive and send more and more information faster, it can also create a continuous barrage of new tasks that can overwhelm users. This paradox results in behavior that a speaker at the recent Supernova conference described as "continuous partial attention" -- a phenomenon in which people keep "one major item in focus while scanning our surroundings to see if anything else important needs our attention. It is motivated by a desire not to miss opportunities. We want to ensure our place as a live node on the network."

Coming Soon...A Single, Global, Collaborative Virtual IT World (Phew!)

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 12:01:06 EST

Explosive forces of technology are driving computing from a centralized model to a decentralized one, from the center to the edge. These forces, which demand new systems and business models, represent both threat and opportunity, according to participants at the recent Supernova conference in San Francisco.

Podcasting: Can This New Medium Make Money?

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 16:50:59 EST

Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh and his nemesis, Al Franken, are podcasting. As are ESPN, former MTV video jockey Adam Curry and thousands of others. Podcasting, a way to broadcast audio over the Internet, has become the latest web movement to get everyone's attention. Indeed, a recent survey found that more than six million people out of the 22 million who own iPods or MP3 players have listened to a podcast. Such activity begs the question: Is podcasting here to stay? Experts at Wharton and elsewhere answer with a resounding yes. Is there a viable business model for these broadcasts? That's not as clear, although some observers suggest that advertising and paid subscriptions are possible sources of revenue.

The Odds Are Good That Online Gambling Will Continue to Thrive -- But at What Price?

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 15:36:49 EST

Online poker is on a winning streak. According to research firm River City Group, Internet poker alone is a $2 billion-a-year industry with a million players monthly. ComScore Media Metrix -- which measures all U.S. Internet users at home, work and college locations -- reports more than 29.1 million unique visitors to online gambling sites in April, out of a total audience of 165 million. Observers agree that the numbers are impressive, but experts at Wharton and elsewhere contend that the mainstreaming of online gambling -- particularly among school-aged males -- raises a host of public policy, legal and e-commerce issues.

Wikis, Weblogs and RSS: What Does the New Internet Mean for Business?

Wed, 29 Jun 2005 16:12:24 EST

The Internet is entering a new phase that will decentralize control within companies, enable employees to collaborate more easily, and drive efficiency. But corporations that want to use the web strategically to build corporate value will not just need to make radical cultural changes, they may also need to master a new vocabulary with terms such as Wikis, Weblogs, and RSS. What will this new Internet mean for business? Wharton legal studies and business ethics professor Kevin Werbach discussed this issue with three experts who will be speaking at the Supernova 2005 conference in San Francisco later this month.

Can Your Firm Develop a Sustainable Edge? Ask John Hagel and John Seely Brown

Wed, 15 Jun 2005 15:46:04 EST

John Hagel III, a former McKinsey consultant, and John Seely Brown, former chief scientist of Xerox, are focusing these days on a question that CEOs often ask themselves: How can their companies develop a sustainable competitive edge that can keep them ahead of the competition? Their answer, which they discuss in a new book, involves ideas that enable firms to step up the pace at which they develop new capabilities. Hagel and Brown will speak about these issues at Supernova 2005, a conference of technologists and business leaders to be held in San Francisco later this month. Kevin Werbach, a professor of legal studies at Wharton and Supernova's organizer, spoke with them about sustainable advantage, capability building, process networks and several other themes that will be highlighted at the conference.

Tune in Tomorrow for the Digital Living Room?

Wed, 15 Jun 2005 15:46:04 EST

When Microsoft introduced its long-awaited Xbox 360 console on May 12 in an MTV special, its intentions went beyond just fun and games. The company called the long-awaited product a "future-generation game and entertainment system." Its market? The increasingly crowded living room. Keeping in step with Microsoft, a long parade of technology companies is targeting home entertainment and selling wares that were typically offered by consumer electronic giants such as Sony. Is the so-called digital living room fact or fantasy? Who will the winners ultimately be? Wharton experts say the digital living room is becoming a reality -- slowly.

Microsoft's "Longhorn" Operating System: Sure Hit or Longshot?

Wed, 18 May 2005 15:30:26 EST

When Microsoft chairman Bill Gates touts his company's next Windows operating system, code named "Longhorn," he can barely contain his enthusiasm, adding "it will be super to get that out in the hands of our customers." The big question is whether customers will share Gates' enthusiasm more than a year from now. The answer will depend a lot on upcoming improvements in software security, sales in the technology industry and Microsoft's ability to remain a cutting-edge innovator.

PDFs in a Flash: What Drove the Adobe Systems-Macromedia Merger?

Wed, 04 May 2005 14:58:50 EST

This week Adobe Systems, the San Jose, Calif.-based software company that is well known for its PDF technology, announced its $3.4 billion acquisition of Macromedia, a San Francisco-based firm whose Flash and Shockwave products are widely used to deliver video and animation on the Internet. The boards of both companies have approved the deal; the merger is expected to be completed later this year. Assuming that happens, the new Adobe Systems will emerge as a powerful software company with an array of products to deliver web-based content. Experts at Wharton and elsewhere point out, however, that this could also spark serious competitive battles with Microsoft.

Blogs, Everyone? Weblogs Are Here to Stay, but Where Are They Headed?

Wed, 06 Apr 2005 17:18:11 EST

Recently, blogs have been credited with everything from CBS News anchorman Dan Rather's departure, to unauthorized previews of the latest Apple Computer products, to new transparency in presidential campaigns. The big question is whether blogs, short for weblogs, have the staying power to become more than just online diaries. Will bloggers upend the mainstream media? What legal protections should bloggers have? Is there a blogger business model? While no definitive answers exist just yet, experts at Wharton advise questioners to be patient. Blogging, they note, will be around for a long time.

Browser Wars: Will Firefox Burn Explorer?

Wed, 23 Mar 2005 12:10:33 EST

Battling browsers are back. Just as in the 1990s, when Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape's Navigator fought each other for supremacy, today Mozilla's Firefox browser is trying to gain traction over IE. This latest skirmish, however, goes beyond just browsing the web. Microsoft's security problems have left an opening for upstarts like Firefox and could lead to other products taking market share from the software giant, say experts at Wharton. Will Microsoft customers actively look for alternatives to IE? Or can the giant software company capture Firefox's best features and then blow this upstart competitor out of the water?

HP After Carly: What Went Wrong?

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 10:17:42 EST

When Carleton (Carly) S. Fiorina joined Hewlett-Packard as its chairman and CEO in 1999, she was widely regarded as a charismatic leader who would help HP get out of its high-tech rut. Six years later, however, Fiorina has been forced out of her position at HP's helm, and the company is still languishing. What happened? According to Wharton professors, while Fiorina has several strengths, the merger she engineered with Compaq not only failed to deliver on its promises, it actually made matters worse.

The Outlook for VoIP: Regulatory Battles and New Competition

Wed, 23 Feb 2005 16:12:25 EST

During his four years as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Michael Powell championed the idea that new communications technologies should not be subject to federal and state regulations. But as Powell prepares to step down in March, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) -- the technology that allows telephone calls to travel over the Internet -- faces a push by several states to regulate it as a traditional telephone service, a move that many fear would stifle its potential.

Mother and Child Reunion: Will the AT&T/SBC Merger Build or Destroy Value?

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 10:14:10 EST

SBC Communications' CEO, Edward E. Whitacre Jr., sees his company's acquisition of AT&T as a deal that will "renew America's leadership in communications technology." The $16 billion merger, however, also raises lots of questions that have yet to be answered, according to experts from Wharton and elsewhere. Unless these issues are resolved, according to one professor, the merger could end up as "a great opportunity to destroy value."

Verizon Ratchets Up Stakes in the Cable-Telecom War

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 13:53:21 EST

In the escalating war between telecom and cable companies, Verizon Communications recently unveiled plans to offer video service via fiber-optic lines running directly into homes. According to Wharton experts and others, however, the company's ambitious agenda faces a number of obstacles, including equally ambitious agendas from competitors like Comcast, Cox Communications and Cablevision.

Satellite Radio: Wave of the Future or Niche Play?

Wed, 03 Nov 2004 16:54:05 EST

Two major deals involving satellite radio have been announced this month. In early October, Sirius Satellite Radio said it had signed a $500 million contract with controversial disk jockey Howard Stern, moving his show to its network for five years. On Oct. 20, XM Satellite Radio confirmed it had struck an 11-year, $650 million agreement enabling it to broadcast all Major League Baseball games starting from the 2005 season. Is satellite radio going mainstream at last? Experts at Wharton and elsewhere say there's little doubt that satellite radio will eventually become big business. The question, though, is when.