Tag Archives: Launches

Market Analysis

Google Launches In-App Billing on Android Market

“We’re pleased to announce the launch of Android Market In-app Billing to developers and users. As an Android developer, you will now be able to publish apps that use In-app Billing and your users can make purchases from within your apps,” stated the blog post. This new launch will greatly enhance the sale of applications in the Android market, as prior to this, Android-based app creators could only sell their apps in the app market, and the monetary transaction was also a complex process. Moreover, owing to this constraint, the developers were left with no choice, but to offer their software free of cost to the users.

The negatives

Even though this in-app payment offer is very beneficial, and is one of major revenue source for Apple which also offers a similar service to its iPhone customers, it has some flaws. Malware and theft are major worries for Android app developers, while opting for selling their applications through this method. “It’s also worth noting the hidden (or at least partially obscured) costs of some apps that use this model. Previously, Android apps could be bought with a simple one-off payment – you knew exactly what you were paying, even if it was a relatively expensive app,” said a technology expert.

Google helping Android market develop

Google Inc. has been working at developing the Android market, and in its bid, it has also encouraged creation of new apps by developers. “Despite the developments, Google has a lot more work to do with Android Market, improving the buying experience for visitors, adding more methods for payment worldwide, and more,” added a market analyst.

General Business

Olin Business School Launches Competition For Journalists

“Strategic change” is the focus of a new journalism prize that aims to raise awareness of what makes successful companies tick. The Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis announces the creation of the Olin Corporate Strategy Prize with $10,000 in honoraria for the best reporting on a significant shift in corporate strategy.

“Part of our mission as a business school is to expand understanding among our students and the general business public about current business practices,” says Mahendra Gupta, Olin’s dean and the Geraldine J. and Robert L. Virgil professor of management and accounting. “This new competition will shine a spotlight on the best business journalists covering corporate strategy and provide excellent case studies for faculty, students and managers to study.”

A distinguished panel of judges including journalists, business school scholars, strategy experts and corporate leaders will award prizes to the top three articles.

* First prize winner: $5,000

* Second prize winner: $3,500

* Third prize winner: $1,500

The competition is open to professional journalists who have published a story in the past two years profiling a company that has recently undergone or is undergoing significant strategic change. Complete contest rules and requirements are available at the Olin Corporate Strategy Prize website.

A compendium of qualified articles submitted to the competition will be widely distributed to accredited business schools for use in their academic programs. Olin faculty and students envision using the articles in case competitions and case studies. The school also foresees the possibility of future collaboration between faculty and journalists to conduct expanded analysis of cases to further understanding of the complexities of strategic change.

Deadline for submissions to the competition is June 30, 2010.

Please provide the anchor text / biography for your resource box:
Melody Walker is the Director of News and Information for Washington University of St. Louis’ Olin Business School. The Olin Corporate Strategy Prize aims to raise awareness of what makes successful companies tick.