This document discusses the business relevance of internet-based companies like Facebook, Google, Amazon, and World of Warcraft. It notes key user metrics and revenue figures for these companies. It also examines the transition to a more participatory and interactive web where content is an ongoing process rather than a one-time investment. Finally, it considers the growth of the virtual economy and issues around making money in this new internet-driven landscape.
4. Introduction
World of
Facebook Google Amazon
Warcraft
50 M US 11,5 M
Users 200 M ? (monthly) (monthly)
140-150 M
Revenues 300 M 21.796 billion 19.166 billion
(monthly)
6. Introduction
“move from personal websites to blogs and
blog site aggregation, from publishing to
participation, from web content as the
outcome of large up-front investment to an
ongoing and interactive process, and from
content management systems to links
based on tagging (folksonomy)quot;
(T. Flew, 2008)
7. A web based
economy
Services Others
25%
40%
50% 50%
60%
75%
1997 2007 2008
8. A web based
economy
Virtual Economy
Lack of face to face complex interaction
On time
9. A web based
economy
Growth of the internet
Technological
Necessities of the industry
10. Social Relevance
Switchers: “the mechanisms
connecting or disconnecting
networks on the basis of certain
programmes or strategies”
Castell, 2004