How the basic concepts of economics-including markets, institutions, and money-can be used to create and analyze economies based on virtual goods. In the twenty-first-century digital world, virtual goods are sold for real money. Digital game players happily pay for avatars, power-ups, and other game items. But behind every virtual sale, there is a virtual economy, simple or complex. In this book, Vili Lehdonvirta and Edward Castronova introduce the basic concepts of economics into the game developer's and game designer's toolkits. Lehdonvirta and Castronova explain how the fundamentals of economics-markets, institutions, and money-can be used to create or analyze economies based on artificially scarce virtual goods. They focus on virtual economies in digital games, but also touch on serious digital currencies such as Bitcoin as well as virtual economies that emerge in social media around points, likes, and followers. The theoretical emphasis is on elementary microeconomic theory, with some discussion of behavioral economics, macroeconomics, sociology of consumption, and other social science theories relevant to economic behavior. Topics include the rational choice model of economic decision making; information goods versus virtual goods; supply, demand, and market equilibrium; monopoly power; setting prices; and externalities. The book will enable developers and designers to create and maintain successful virtual economies, introduce social scientists and policy makers to the power of virtual economies, and provide a useful guide to economic fundamentals for students in other disciplines.

This is the practical advice about IT outsourcing you would normally get from a friend over lunch. It does not require the reader possess an MBA or a doctorate in computer science to understand, and it isn't trying to sell any vendor's services. It is not a checklist or a to-do list, but rather a brief exploration of the Managed Services Provider (MSP) as a technology support vendor, pros and cons, warts and daisies. This book is for anyone who wants to understand what an MSP is and does, whether and how to hire one, and how get the most value for your money if you do. An MSP is a technology company which sells its expertise, technology, and processes as services to non-technology companies on a contractual engagement, almost always with a service level agreement (SLA) to define appropriate actions and response times. MSPs like to say that they are your IT department. If you already have an IT department, the MSP can act in concert with your staff to fill advisory or operational gaps that might exist in your organization. MSPs can also be your gateway to the cloud. Cloud-based services have been maturing over the past 10 years. Initially, the cloud was a great place to backup data. Then, the cloud became a great place from which to run and store your corporate e-mail. Now, a multitude of cloud-based solutions are blossoming everywhere, with designations such as SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, and others. To understand these service offerings and get to the cloud, businesses will need to partner with one or multiple technology companies. Requirements analyses, network assessments, project management, vendor selection and management, and industry knowledge are all key to finding the perfect solution. Providing they have a local presence to deal with your physical infrastructure, the right solution for your business is probably an MSP. If your company is not interested in moving services to the cloud, the MSP can support your network and computer infrastructu

This Handbook has three objectives: 1) to serve as a primer for explaining the complex issues around the use of electromagnetic spectrum; 2) to analyze, from both an economic and a legal perspective, the regulatory processes being considered or underway to reallocate or change the use of spectrum bands; and 3) to be a reference source for industry professionals. Part I of the Handbook provides an overview of the spectrum and the regulatory process. Part II of the Handbook explains the various available spectrum bands, discussing their range, location, and physical properties and how these impact their ability to be used. An analysis of the current allocation of these spectrum bands in the United States follows. Part III contains detailed explanations of the various spectrum band plans. Throughout the Handbook, we provide links in the footnotes to sources for additional information. From a macro-perspective, regulators worldwide are currently reallocating spectrum from underutilized applications to the burgeoning mobile wireless broadband applications. Given the needs and importance of wireless broadband, from an economic and social perspective, this trend is likely unstoppable. The FCC is allocating both licensed spectrum (including the broadcast incentive auction) and unlicensed spectrum (including the 3.5 GHz and 5 GHz processes). Unlicensed (shared) spectrum is one approach to minimize disruption from these reallocation efforts and expand utilization is the small but significant spectrum sharing movement. Spectrum sharing is simultaneously proposing to improve spectral efficiency and calling into question the need for licenses altogether. As a result of the existing processes underway to improve the efficiency of spectrum allocation along with new technologies that further improve efficiency, the extent of "spectrum crunch" (i.e. the apparent lack of available spectrum) is poorly understood and hotly debated. Summit Ridge Group does not believe it is likely to bring information access to a grinding halt in the United States. Rather, we may see temporary congestion while regulators approve new reallocations of spectrum and spectrum-sharing plans, and service providers build out services on new spectrum. These processes, combined with wireless carriers' improved ability to regulate customer data usage-primarily by charging higher fees and/or capping usage, and offloading traffic via Wi-Fi and other technologies-should allow operators to continue to provide reliable service in the face of increasing demand. These trends are also likely to temper the increase in spectrum prices in the future.

Written by an experienced CIO with substantial real-world experience in the design, implementation and management of Cloud technologies, this book is a practical, plain English guide that discusses the commercial, governance, risk and cost issues of Cloud for your business, and provides you with an easy to understand framework to assess the cost and risk of moving to the Cloud. Realise the value of Cloud by avoiding the real and hidden pitfalls. This book is for executives and stakeholders in your organisation with a vested interest in the successful implementation of Cloud projects and the use of your organisation's IT systems - and that's not just the IT Department It insightfully and professionally reveals the kinds of issues that you are likely to face in adopting Cloud technologies in your business, whether that be small, mid-market or multinational. Focus on Software as a Service (SaaS) - Also known as the Public Cloud, SaaS is sometimes referred to as "software on-demand." You pay for what you use through a regular subscription service, and the software is accessed over the Internet. Your own nothing, except the data you load into the system. SaaS is where the majority of risk, complexity, cost and governance issues reside, and for this reason, it forms the focus of this book.

In July 2012 Rupert Murdoch experienced what he called "the most humbled day of my life" (he misspoke - he meant "humbling") when he was testifying in front of a British Parliamentary inquiry into the activities of his British newspapers and was assailed by a man carrying a paper plate full of shaving foam. Murdoch looked tired, old, and out of touch with the organization he had created. It seemed that he was within weeks of losing control of the business he had amassed and unquestionably loved: his global newspapers, prominent among them the British no-prisoners-taken red-topped tabloids. Within six months it was as if it had never happened. News International's share price was robust, Murdoch's control unquestioned and he had promoted a bold division on News into two companies, one focusing on digital and TV, the other on print. The summer's stories of the jockeying among Murdoch's children and corporate lieutenants to succeed him were silenced; what promised to be the second half of King Lear never unfolded - the king remained resolutely on his throne. No sons or daughter would displace him anytime soon. There had been casualties - the flame-haired Rebecca Brooks faced a prison sentence; Prime Minister David Cameron was embarrassed; and the News of the World was shuttered. But the company in general, and Murdoch in particular marched on relentlessly to the sound of its own song, the News Internationale, as it were. Other news barons are more flamboyant - Murdoch cannot match Silvio Berlusconi for tawdriness, and he does not own a sports franchise - but none is as significant a factor in the popular culture across the English speaking world. Murdoch has changed the landscape of news in Australia, first, Britain and now America. Always controversial, he has also overseen an talent pool of newspapermen and women that are the envy of their rivals. Almost no one in the US wants the Wall Street Journal to return to what it was before Murdoch bought it in 2007. Murdoch may not be liked, but he is respected. His competitive instincts are second to none. And in Fox TV, he owns America's most fearlessly disruptive popular cable station. So much has happened in the Murdoch story that it's amazing that almost five years have passed since the last full biographical treatment. NPR News's David Folkenflik brings us up to date with the ongoing greatest story of all time: the man who makes the news, literally: Rupert Murdoch.

mCommerce is gaining traction and all of the recent surveys on the subject expect it to continue to grow quickly. However it is little understood. For example, what is the difference between mCommerce and eCommerce on a mobile device? When should a browser based solution be used and when should an app be used? Should a solution include a digital wallet? And, if so, what type of wallet? Too many organizations are trying to develop and implement an mCommerce strategy without an understanding of the building blocks of such a strategy. They are being left behind by those who have an effective strategy in place. This book will help anyone in an organization that sells goods or services to consumers and is considering doing so over the mobile channel. People involved in digital strategy, marketing and in designing sales processes will benefit from this book. Although the book is not technical, people in IT will benefit by understanding what their technology must achieve and why. The author is a genuine practitioner. In this book he breaks mCommerce down into its fundamental components and offers a practical guide to developing and implementing a mCommerce strategy.

"Telecom Management for Call Centers" offers a practical guide to addressing the most common issues faced by telecom management in large call-centers. This handbook was written primarily for the telecom manager; the techniques described here are practical and easily applicable, focusing on the issues the telecom manager faces in his or her daily operational work. The lessons learned by the professionals in this growing field are not often documented and shared. This guide provides documentation of this practical knowledge in a single volume, presented by telecom professionals Luiz Augusto de Carvalho and Olavo Alves Jr. It offers a general view of how telecom infrastructures in large call-centers should be planned, priced, negotiated and managed. It examines call-center operations and provides guidelines for cost management; traffic management; call-center infrastructure; transport networks; GSM gateways deployment; billing systems and auditing; dialer deployment. Carvalho and Alves also explore how to do the necessary calculations, prepare and use traffic matrixes, and map and analyze call-center traffic, including relevant case studies for all issues. Put your call center on the path to success using the advice and methods offered in "Telecom Management for Call Centers."

Newly expanded edition. A real-world, plain-language how-to guide for delivering amazing customer service to customers and end-users.

Now in its third edition, The Compassionate Geek is the definitive guide for delivering amazing customer service to customers and end-users. Filled with practical tips, best practices and real-world techniques, The Compassionate Geek is a quick read with equally fast results. Each chapter contains a reflection and discussion section to help improve customer service skills. Inside are lots of personal stories and examples of mistakes made and lessons learned in addition to an entire chapter on overcoming personal and professional obstacles. All of the information is presented in a straightforward style that can be understood and used right away. There's nothing foo-foo, just down-to-earth tips and technical support best practices learned from years of working with technical staff and demanding customers and end-users.

Here's what you'll find: The four intrinsic qualities of great customer service providers Customer service tips on how to say no without alienating your customer or end user Best practices for communicating with email, including examples Best practices for communicating using chat and texting Ten tips for being a good listener Two practical ways to keep your emotions in check using emotional intelligence (eq) techniques A six-step flow chart for handling customer and end user calls Customer service skills to use when the customer or end user is wrong How to work with the different generations in the workplace Motivational stories of human triumph with reflection and discussion questions Techniques for overcoming personal and professional obstacles

All of the information is presented in a straightforward style that you can understand and use right away. There's nothing "foo-foo," just down-to-earth tips and technical support best practices learned from years of working with technical staff and demanding customers and end users.

A behind-the-scenes look at how tomorrow's hottest startups are being primed for greatness
Investment firm Y Combinator is the most sought-after home for startups in Silicon Valley. Twice a year, it funds dozens of just-founded startups and provides three months of guidance from Paul Graham, YC's impresario, and his partners. Receiving an offer from YC creates the opportunity of a lifetime.
Acclaimed journalist Randall Stross was granted unprecedented access to Y Combinator, enabling a unique inside tour of the world of software startups. Over the course of a summer, we watch as a group of founders scramble to make something people want.
This is the definitive story of a seismic shift in the business world, in which coding skill trumps experience, undergraduates confidently take on Goliaths, and investors fall in love.

The "Top 25 Web Analytics of 2011-2012" report provides insights into the state of web analytics performance measurement today by listing and analyzing the most visited KPIs for this industry on smartKPIs.com in 2011. In addition to KPI names, it contains a detailed description of each KPI, in the standard smartKPIs.com KPI documentation format that includes fields such as: definition, purpose, calculation, limitation, overall notes and additional resources. This product is part of the "Top KPIs of 2011-2012" series of reports and a result of the research program conducted by the analysts of smartKPIs.com in the area of integrated performance management and measurement. SmartKPIs.com hosts the largest catalogue of thoroughly documented KPI examples, representing an excellent platform for research and dissemination of insights on KPIs and related topics. The hundreds of thousands of visits to smartKPIs.com and the thousands of KPIs visited, bookmarked and rated by members of this online community in 2011 provided a rich data set, which combined with further analysis from the editorial team, formed the basis of these research reports.

Breaking Your Own News is the ultimate insider's guide to publicizing you and your business on TV, on the radio, in print, or online. Emmy-winning CNN and New York Times veteran publicity consultant Sandi Gehring reveals the secrets she uses to get her clients in front of the camera and win over national audiences. Sandi walks you step-by-step through her three-step method for crafting a newsworthy angle the media will love. She shows you how to get your story in front of key decision makers; coaches you on how to overcome stage fright before your first big interview; and teaches you how to capitalize on publicity and turn it into business. After reading this book, you'll know everything you need to turn the media into your own publicity team by Breaking Your Own News.

The "Top 25 IT Security KPIs of 2011-2012" report provides insights into the state of IT security performance measurement today by listing and analyzing the most visited KPIs for this industry on smartKPIs.com in 2011. In addition to KPI names, it contains a detailed description of each KPI, in the standard smartKPIs.com KPI documentation format, that includes fields such as: definition, purpose, calculation, limitation, overall notes and additional resources. This product is part of the "Top KPIs of 2011-2012" series of reports and a result of the research program conducted by the analysts of smartKPIs.com in the area of integrated performance management and measurement. smartKPIs.com hosts the largest catalogue of thoroughly documented KPI examples, representing an excellent platform for research and dissemination of insights on KPIs and related topics. The hundreds of thousands of visits to smartKPIs.com and the thousands of KPIs visited, bookmarked and rated by members of this online community in 2011 provided a rich data set, which combined with further analysis from the editorial team, formed the basis of these research reports.

The "Top 25 Application Development KPIs of 2011-2012" report provides insights into the state of application development performance measurement today by listing and analyzing the most visited KPIs for this industry on smartKPIs.com in 2011. In addition to KPI names, it contains a detailed description of each KPI, in the standard smartKPIs.com KPI documentation format, that includes fields such as: definition, purpose, calculation, limitation, overall notes and additional resources. This product is part of the "Top KPIs of 2011-2012" series of reports and a result of the research program conducted by the analysts of smartKPIs.com in the area of integrated performance management and measurement. smartKPIs.com hosts the largest catalogue of thoroughly documented KPI examples, representing an excellent platform for research and dissemination of insights on KPIs and related topics. The hundreds of thousands of visits to smartKPIs.com and the thousands of KPIs visited, bookmarked and rated by members of this online community in 2011 provided a rich data set, which combined with further analysis from the editorial team, formed the basis of these research reports.

Former newspaper executive publishes new book... Not Extinct Yet. In his memoir of 44 years in publishing, Rick Rae talks about the ups and downs of the newspaper business from his unique vantage point. In a career spanning almost twenty locations in the United States and Canada, Rick has worked for, or managed over fifty newspapers. In this book he shares some of his experiences, such as butting heads with unions, dealing with employees who embezzle, contacts with celebrities, law suits, advertising sales techniques, competitive market situations and many other details about this fascinating industry. He has worn several hats during his years in the business.... from ad sales, editor, production manager, circulation manager, publisher, vice president and president of publishing companies ranging in size from small local weeklies to suburban dailies in the 100,000-200,000 circulation range. He talks about buying his own company at age 68 and how he is growing his company as he enters his 73rd year. Produced in hard and soft cover as well as an electronic version, Not Extinct Yet is available through Bookstore.authorhouse.com, Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com ISBN number is 978146783507-7 for soft cover, 978146783508-4 hardcover and 978146783509-1 for the electronic version. For more information contact [email protected]

Wenn Sie sich fur den Umgang mit Medien interessieren, bietet sich die "Bibliothek der Mediengestalt" an. Dazu gehoeren neben dem Buch zum Medienmarketing verschiedene Werke, die sich mit unterschiedlichen Bereichen dieses Themenkomplexes beschaftigen. Alle Themen sind auf die aktuellen Prufungsordnungen ausgerichtet und eignen sich daher hervorragend fur die Prufungsvorbereitung. So koennen Sie sich ein grundlegendes Wissen fur den Umgang mit Medien aneignen.

Meet Thaddeus Sikorski, a herculean third-generation American, courageous, persevering, and surprisingly steadfast father of this tragic odyssey to love and protect his angel children. After losing his first love, 18-year-old Thad enlist, and goes on to become a Vietnam War combatant, a San Francisco progressive street revolutionary, a graduate business student, an Internet-related technology visionary, husband, and a global business leader. In between entrepreneurial misadventures, he manages to save the life of an American President, struggles with a psychopathy attorney and murderer, discovers the truth about Silicon Valley's justice system, experiences the economic hollowing out brought on by the outsourcing of Silicon Valley technologies, and survives the emotions of remaining true to his love for his children. This extraordinary journey travels through three decades of the American technology and cultural landscape. Author Richard Kusiolek paid much attention to the details of everyday life of an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. Angels in the Silicon encapsulates the experience of living in Silicon Valley for three decades of rapid technology progress, economic change, and a politically correct progressive judiciary. The novel, "Angels in the Silicon," has a powerful American story to tell. You will learn the naked truth of living in Northern California's Silicon Valley.

'42 Rules of Driving Success with Books (2nd Edition)' will help you appreciate the ease of creation and the depth of value a book (or series of books) can create for your business. Whether you write the book yourself, have your clients/partners provide content, or have it ghostwritten, being the author of a book makes you an expert and being the expert gets you business. By reading this book, you will be informed and inspired by the stories and lessons of 40 other professionals that benefited greatly with their book.

The authors in this book wrote content that allowed them to demonstrate innovation, share their marketing strategy, improve client retention, and share tricks and techniques on using a tool or service. The fact that they put this content in a book gave their ideas weight and increased their credibility and reputation. Having their books show up on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com and other physical and eBook locations as well as personally delivering their books to clients/prospects really helped to drive the impact of their message.

If you are a CEO, CMO, evangelist or someone in your company that needs to demonstrate thought leadership, drive lead generation, and increase revenue, '42 Rules of Driving Success with Books (2nd Edition)' is an invaluable read as it will help you catapult your success. Start your journey or enhance it today by applying the ideas and techniques contained in this book by 40 experts that have all used books for their professional success.

From buying and selling PC hardware to product development and selling services, "Start Your Own Computer Business: The Unembellished Guide" offers a realistic picture of making it on your own. Bestselling author, Morris Rosenthal, has 15 years of experience in the computer business, building and repairing thousands of PCs and helping hundreds of customers. The book mixes practical advice and cautions with real-world anecdotes of successes and failures. Dollars and cents play a prominent role in the book, as Rosenthal stresses that the real challenge of succeeding in the computer business is the business part of the equation. Managing employees, inventory and scarce financial resources are covered, along with how to remain sane and when to quit. The book is illustrated with a series of original cartoons on the computer business subject.

Good IT is simply good business. But managing IT infrastructure has always been challenging. Virtualization and cloud computing make this even more difficult. In their daily work marketing HP Operations Center (formerly OpenView Operations), authors "Peter Spielvogel," "John Haworth," and "Sonja Hickey" frequently encounter organizations struggling with these issues. They have come to realize that IT professionals want simple actionable ideas that will deliver gains in availability, performance, and efficiency. "#IT OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT tweet Book01" was written with that in mind.

IT architectures are constantly evolving. Increased complexity and the dynamic nature of virtualized and cloud environments make managing the underlying IT infrastructure harder than ever. Companies need a new management approach that focuses on connecting business services and the end user experience to the underlying infrastructure, incorporating all of the layers from the application to the virtual and to the physical. The concepts of servers, storage, and networks become more fluid, and the relationships among these elements are constantly changing. Where companies could previously use different consoles to manage disparate and static silos, this becomes untenable with virtualization and the added abstraction layer in the cloud. Fortunately, there are some proven best practices that simplify IT infrastructure management in this age of complexity.

Reading this book will not make you an expert on managing IT infrastructure, but it will make you think in a different way about some of your decisions, and those of your peers. If the guidance contained herein starts a discussion in your team that results in you avoiding one big mistake, then the authors will have achieved their goal.

"#IT OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT tweet Book01" is part of the THiNKaha series whose 120-page books contain 140 well-thought-out quotes (tweets/ahas).

INSIDE APPLE reveals the secret systems, tactics and leadership strategies that allowed Steve Jobs and his company to churn out hit after hit and inspire a cult-like following for its products.
If Apple is Silicon Valley's answer to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, then author Adam Lashinsky provides readers with a golden ticket to step inside. In this primer on leadership and innovation, the author will introduce readers to concepts like the "DRI" (Apple's practice of assigning a Directly Responsible Individual to every task) and the Top 100 (an annual ritual in which 100 up-and-coming executives are tapped a la Skull & Bones for a secret retreat with company founder Steve Jobs).
Based on numerous interviews, the book offers exclusive new information about how Apple innovates, deals with its suppliers and is handling the transition into the Post Jobs Era. Lashinsky, a Senior Editor at Large for Fortune, knows the subject cold: In a 2008 cover story for the magazine entitled The Genius Behind Steve: Could Operations Whiz Tim Cook Run The Company Someday he predicted that Tim Cook, then an unknown, would eventually succeed Steve Jobs as CEO.
While Inside Apple is ostensibly a deep dive into one, unique company (and its ecosystem of suppliers, investors, employees and competitors), the lessons about Jobs, leadership, product design and marketing are universal. They should appeal to anyone hoping to bring some of that Apple magic to their own company, career, or creative endeavor.

David Ogilvy said of Scientific Advertising, "Nobody should be allowed to have anything to do with advertising until he has read this book seven times. It changed the course of my life." In Scientific Advertising Claude C. Hopkins outlines testing and measuring based advertising thereby reducing potential losses of unsuccessful campaigns and maximizing the effectiveness of profitable ones. Or, as Hopkins wrote, the advertiser is "playing on the safe side of a hundred to one shot." Claude C. Hopkins was one of the great advertising pioneers believing that advertising existed only to sell something and should be measurable and justify the results that it produced. Hopkins worked for various advertisers, including Bissell Carpet Sweeper Company, Swift & Company and Dr. Shoop's patent medicine company. Hopkins insisted copywriters researched their client products and produce reason-why copy. He also asserted that a good product was its own best salesperson and as such sampling was an excellent tactic to increase sales.

What are the relationships between news media and public relations? What happens when a negative event seems to destroy many years of corporation's good reputation? Is credibility really a transferable value? Are public relation activities social and intangible issues? How to use media management and public relations to reverse a corporate and/or personal image tarnished by the media? What is the "mud machine" in political communication and how to contrast it? How to measure and evaluate communication quality? What is the AVE method? Many and apparently different questions, concerning several topics. But all framed in a fundamental question: Is it possible to assess communication? And how? This book tries to give some answers, presenting theoretical approaches, methodologies and case histories coming from public relations, media studies, political communication. An innovative approach to important but still poorly analysed issues in Communication Studies.

"Telecommunications, Broadcasting, and Information: Law, Policy, and Regulation is a collection of readings designed to accompany an upper-level undergraduate course that introduces students to the challenges confronting regulators, practitioners, stakeholders, and the public as a result of the convergence of information technologies and their towering impact on democracy and on quality of life. The approach adopted in this anthology introduces students to basic concepts of economics, law, competition, and regulatory governance, and to the fundamentals of communications and antitrust policymaking, in order to set the foundation for class discussions on issues pertaining to what have been distinct industries telecommunications and broadcasting as they become one the information industry. The issues covered in this collection range from indecency regulation and political speech to interconnection oversight and network neutrality; from media ownership and the role of public and educational broadcasting to the technological underpinnings of the American regulatory system and the quest for universal service. Short introductions accompanying each of the readings set them in the context of the field of knowledge needed to fully comprehend the framework in which they are embedded.
Amit M. Schejter (Ph.D., Rutgers) is associate professor of communications and co-director of the Institute for Information Policy at the College of Communications of Penn State University. His books, law reviews, and academic studies on communications policy have been published and presented worldwide in four languages. Sangyong Han (M.A., Indiana University) is a doctoral candidate and research fellow at the Institute for Information Policy at the College of Communications at Penn State University. Previously, he has held managerial and marketing positions in the Korean telecommunications industry."