Tech's Next Global Challenge

In the early 1960's, Japan began to re-industrialize. Eventually what was once viewed as a nation who produced cheap and sub-standard electronics became the world leader in the manufacturing of automobiles and technology. The same is happening in developing nations such as India and China in regards to the IT industry. Today we outsource much of our development to these countries but in the near future, these countries could take over the IT industry altogether, once again changing the face of the global economy forever.

We can choose to ignore this change or embrace it. We as an industry can live or die by it. Let the games begin!

Read: Tech's Next Global Challenge

Computer Job Employment Hits Record High!

The IT unemployment rate hit a record low of 2.3% last quarter, with over 4 million employed in IT jobs. Compare that to the current overall unemployment of 5.5% which is double that of computer-related fields. So, if you're currently unemployed in a computer-related field, you now have to stop blaming it on the economy like everyone else.

Computer Jobs Hit Record High

GoDaddy VP Caught Bidding Against Customers

An employee of GoDaddy had been bidding against customers for domain names. It turns out this is unbelievably not against GoDaddy's policies.

"A GoDaddy Vice President has been caught bidding against customers in their own domain name auctions. The employee Adam Dicker isn't just any GoDaddy employee; he's head of the GoDaddy subsidiary that controls the auctions. Dicker won some of the domains he bid for, and pushed up the bid price on auctions he didn't win."

It does seem however that in an effort to lessen this obvious PR nightmare that GoDaddy is changing its policy now that an employee has been caught by the public with their hand in the cookie jar. What is said to be a response from GoDaddy has been posted in this Digg comment:

"Go Daddy has reviewed the auction and found nothing improper.

Adam Dicker's knowledge on the auction was no different from what any customer coming to our TDNAM site would have had.

To ensure customer confidence and to avoid any possible future questions of impropriety all GD employees are now and in the future prohibited from participating in TDNAM auctions, purchasing, sales & back orders."

Digg - GoDaddy VP Caught Bidding Against Customers

Google and Yahoo! Partner Up

Looks like Google and Yahoo! finally sealed the deal. Here's a breakdown of some of the main aspects of the pact, from ZDNet.com:

• The Yahoo-Google partnership is non-exclusive and Yahoo controls the user experience and where the ads run.
• Yahoo will still use its own Panama marketplace when the monetization is comparable to what Google could provide.
• Google and Yahoo will make their instant messaging services interoperable.
• The agreement has a term of up to ten years: a four-year initial term and two, three-year renewals at Yahoo!’s option.
• Either party can terminate the deal in the event of a change in control. The catch: Yahoo has to pay a termination fee if the agreement is terminated as a result of a change in control that occurs within 24 months. The termination fee is $250 million, subject to reduction by 50 percent of revenues earned by Google under the agreement. That’s basically an anti-Microsoft takeover clause.
• And most importantly, Google will provide $250 million to $450 million in incremental cash flow. After 12 months of implementation, Yahoo expects “an $800 million annual revenue opportunity.”