Title: "Google Checkout sees poor customer satisfaction"
Author: Jacqui Cheng
Source: ars technica
While Google checkout penetrated the market for online credit card transaction servicing rather quickly, gaining around 6% of the market in just a few months, customers seems to be marginally satisfied with the product. Market research shows that google's service simply isn't living up to the expectations of typical early adopters. Only 18.8% of Checkout users reported a "good" service, compared to Paypal's 44.2% satifaction. Cheng reports, "Google appears to have some major improvements to make to the overall user experience before being able to deal some serious blows to PayPal's market share."
While this may sound a bit like doomsday for google fair attempt, I really think this is only the beginning. A product that struggles at first, needing improvements is simply part of Google's strategy. It is not at all uncommon for Google to release an "ok" beta version, assuming their core users will pick it up. They use such customer loyalty to find out what exactly people want and will use in a product. They've been doing this with gmail for a few years now. As an early adopter of gmail, i can tell you, the product has seen a great deal of improvement. Google Docs and Spreadsheets is also in the early stages of this transformation. I really think this is good agile software development. Why spend more than you need to on man hours for features that people wont use? It is much more efficient to create a simple, flexible core product and then improve it.
If there is one thing Google users are good at it is giving honest, useful feedback. More than anyone, Google does an excellent job of facilitating this relationship.
As they do with most Google products, Slashdotter's took the time to comment on the news...
Checkout may or may not ultimately succeed. Paypal is well established and will be tough to tackle, but this is only the beginning. Expect to see more aggressive marketing of this product from Google.
peace.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Promising Collaborations in the Tech Sector...but my stock is still loosing money
Title: Sun, Intel Strike Win-Win Server Pact
Author: Walaika Haskins
From: ecommercetimes.com
This article outlines the details of a new deal between Sun Microsystems and Intel Corp. Haskins writes "Under the new partnership, Intel has agreed to distribute and support the Solaris OS to its customers". Additionally, "Intel will also endorse Java and Netbeans products and support the OpenSolaris and open Java communities.I really like to see companies with traditionally separate, proprietary technologies getting together these days. As Haskins notes, "They are following the money." These companies are learning to recognize what consumers really want. Not only that, but now, unlike during the tech boom, they are willing to share ideas and technologies to sell products. Ten years ago, especially companies like Sun tried to do everything on their own so as to scrounge up and lock-in as many customers as possible. Since Microsoft was really the only one that has been able to sustain that, now we (as consumers) have a need for something to compete with Microsoft. Not that M$ is all that evil, but they it is better for the progression of the market that should never stand unopposed. I see great promise for both producer and consumer in this deal. When Intel decides explicitly to support something, it contributes to the advancement of Intel's products, as well as the products it includes. Sun will no doubt be driven to improve Solaris, and the Java/Netbeans suite and to match the features and performance of competing M$ and even open source enterprise solutions. AMD, in a similar fashion, made improvements in production efficiency, power consumption, and pricing when it partnered with Dell....of course that hasn't really helped my stock in either of those, so I guess I shouldn't expect to make money from the Sun/Intel deal...but who knows what Q2 and Q3 will bring in '07....
peace.
Author: Walaika Haskins
From: ecommercetimes.com
This article outlines the details of a new deal between Sun Microsystems and Intel Corp. Haskins writes "Under the new partnership, Intel has agreed to distribute and support the Solaris OS to its customers". Additionally, "Intel will also endorse Java and Netbeans products and support the OpenSolaris and open Java communities.I really like to see companies with traditionally separate, proprietary technologies getting together these days. As Haskins notes, "They are following the money." These companies are learning to recognize what consumers really want. Not only that, but now, unlike during the tech boom, they are willing to share ideas and technologies to sell products. Ten years ago, especially companies like Sun tried to do everything on their own so as to scrounge up and lock-in as many customers as possible. Since Microsoft was really the only one that has been able to sustain that, now we (as consumers) have a need for something to compete with Microsoft. Not that M$ is all that evil, but they it is better for the progression of the market that should never stand unopposed. I see great promise for both producer and consumer in this deal. When Intel decides explicitly to support something, it contributes to the advancement of Intel's products, as well as the products it includes. Sun will no doubt be driven to improve Solaris, and the Java/Netbeans suite and to match the features and performance of competing M$ and even open source enterprise solutions. AMD, in a similar fashion, made improvements in production efficiency, power consumption, and pricing when it partnered with Dell....of course that hasn't really helped my stock in either of those, so I guess I shouldn't expect to make money from the Sun/Intel deal...but who knows what Q2 and Q3 will bring in '07....
peace.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Why I Hate The Stock Market...and the Government!
This post has little to nothing to do with an eCommerce periodical...but it's an interesting rant about the business world...
This Tuesday Jan. 16, my google finance feeds lead me to this report:
http://www.123jump.com/earnings-story/Commerce-Bancorp-Quarterly-Profit-Rises-68/20470/
Here is an exerpt:
"...a net income of $78.7 million, or 40 cents per share compared with the last-year net income of $46.9 million, or 26 cents per share. Revenue jumped 24% to $492.3 million. Excluding non-recurring charges in the year-ago quarter, net income grew 19%"
Sounds like GREEAT news...especially for someone like me, an owner of CBH stock as of 01/12/2007....Whoopeee...so how much did their stock go up?? 3%? 6%? 8%? Who knows? , i mean...a 68% raise in quarterly profit!
In all the stock value changed 8.3%....ummm....but in the NEGATIVE direction...
Why??
Well, according to Reuters, "federal regulators are investigating transactions involving the company, its officers and directors, and "related" parties." Additionally, "A cloud will remain over the stock for some time, at least until the results of the investigation are revealed"
Additionally, "Commerce said the probe by the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) "will include but not be limited to transactions with its officers, directors and related parties, including transactions involving bank premises."
So maybe I should be blaming greedy or unwise corporate execs more than anything. This kind of thing really screws over investors and consumers a like. It's just so frustrating! I have been researching/watching this company on-and-off for a few months now...projections have been steady, the sector has performed well, and I waited for what I felt was a good time/price point for the stock...all I've gotten so far is screwed! I am just hopinf that the investigation reveals no foul play so the stock will continue to grow...in the meantime I'll just have to be content with the 1.5% dividend yield....*sigh*
This Tuesday Jan. 16, my google finance feeds lead me to this report:
http://www.123jump.com/earnings-story/Commerce-Bancorp-Quarterly-Profit-Rises-68/20470/
Here is an exerpt:
"...a net income of $78.7 million, or 40 cents per share compared with the last-year net income of $46.9 million, or 26 cents per share. Revenue jumped 24% to $492.3 million. Excluding non-recurring charges in the year-ago quarter, net income grew 19%"
Sounds like GREEAT news...especially for someone like me, an owner of CBH stock as of 01/12/2007....Whoopeee...so how much did their stock go up?? 3%? 6%? 8%? Who knows? , i mean...a 68% raise in quarterly profit!
In all the stock value changed 8.3%....ummm....but in the NEGATIVE direction...
Why??
Well, according to Reuters, "federal regulators are investigating transactions involving the company, its officers and directors, and "related" parties." Additionally, "A cloud will remain over the stock for some time, at least until the results of the investigation are revealed"
Additionally, "Commerce said the probe by the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) "will include but not be limited to transactions with its officers, directors and related parties, including transactions involving bank premises."
So maybe I should be blaming greedy or unwise corporate execs more than anything. This kind of thing really screws over investors and consumers a like. It's just so frustrating! I have been researching/watching this company on-and-off for a few months now...projections have been steady, the sector has performed well, and I waited for what I felt was a good time/price point for the stock...all I've gotten so far is screwed! I am just hopinf that the investigation reveals no foul play so the stock will continue to grow...in the meantime I'll just have to be content with the 1.5% dividend yield....*sigh*
Thursday, January 11, 2007
P&G's Social Networking Ventures
When you are the worlds biggest advertiser, it is imperative to know your consumers. P&G spends $6.7 Billion annually on advertising, so needless to say they are trying to stay on top of makret research. Suzanne Vranica writes about the consumer products giant's newest market research tools Monday's WSJ in an article titled "P&G Plunges Into Social Networking."
The article talks about two instances where P&G is trying to use the internet's social networking phenomenon to learn more about its customers. Once site, called Capessa, is a part of Yahoo! Health where women can go to talk and get information about nutrition, raising children, women's health issues, and the like. Marketing on this site is subtle. It does not directly adverstise any P&G products, as it is intended for more serious research and discussion. I really like that the company is resisting the urge to over-commercialize this site, and I think it will positively contribute to the sites effectiveness. The idea here is a broad focus group-like scenario. P&G is aiming to learn more about its target audience's likes, dislikes, and priorities.
The second site mentioned is that of The People's Choice Awards. The focus of this site is more commercial, and the site does contain ads for many P&G and non-P&G brands. This site has a much different flair, touting celebrity endorsements and pop culture. One major goal of this site is to inprove the dwindling ratings of the People's Choice Awards show.
As a Proctor and Gamble shareholder, I am quite happy to see them keeping it innovative with market research. I was first attracted to the company's strategic placement of multiple products at different price points. These guys are definately into knowing how to deliver what people want. These new sites are an excellent way to do research faster and on a larger scale. In his article "Strategy and the Internet", Michael Porter touts that companies must find new and innovative uses for the web in order for the web to yield a competitive advantage. P&G's new strategies
The article talks about two instances where P&G is trying to use the internet's social networking phenomenon to learn more about its customers. Once site, called Capessa, is a part of Yahoo! Health where women can go to talk and get information about nutrition, raising children, women's health issues, and the like. Marketing on this site is subtle. It does not directly adverstise any P&G products, as it is intended for more serious research and discussion. I really like that the company is resisting the urge to over-commercialize this site, and I think it will positively contribute to the sites effectiveness. The idea here is a broad focus group-like scenario. P&G is aiming to learn more about its target audience's likes, dislikes, and priorities.
The second site mentioned is that of The People's Choice Awards. The focus of this site is more commercial, and the site does contain ads for many P&G and non-P&G brands. This site has a much different flair, touting celebrity endorsements and pop culture. One major goal of this site is to inprove the dwindling ratings of the People's Choice Awards show.
As a Proctor and Gamble shareholder, I am quite happy to see them keeping it innovative with market research. I was first attracted to the company's strategic placement of multiple products at different price points. These guys are definately into knowing how to deliver what people want. These new sites are an excellent way to do research faster and on a larger scale. In his article "Strategy and the Internet", Michael Porter touts that companies must find new and innovative uses for the web in order for the web to yield a competitive advantage. P&G's new strategies
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