Affiliate Programs and Affiliate Reviews
Recession. Nine letters you never want to see together in one word; at least not in that order. Sales and marketing departments across the globe are reeling from one of the worst financial crisis in recent business. The stock market is down, unemployment is climbing, and businesses are bracing for what could be a long, slow recovery.
It was another mixed bag of news for the gaming industry over the past week. Financial papers filed with the Internal Revenue Service revealed that while 2007 and 2008 were strong years for the U.S. gaming industry, the Entertainment Software Association, the industry’s trade association, did not fare as well. Also, Sony reached a milestone with its PlayStation Network.
CEO Steve Ballmer told Wall Street analysts on Tuesday that Microsoft has no intention of making any more job cuts despite the recession’s effects on the technology industry. The Street did not respond to the news favorably. Microsoft stock hit an 11-year low. Ballmer also talked about the impending threat of a desktop version of Google’s Android mobile operating system.
Google and Mozilla have formalized their support for the European Union’s current antitrust proceedings against Microsoft by acquiring third-party status in the proceedings. They join several other firms that have also entered the fray. The EU is investigating whether Microsoft is violating its antitrust regulations by bundling Internet Explorer with its Windows OS.
Two Minnesota newspapers will receive a share of state grants normally given to retrain workers in manufacturing and other industries in transition. The Duluth News Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press will work with the University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication to help staff adapt to an increasingly Internet-based industry.