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Technology: Print me a Stradivarius | The Economist
A recently published business development analysis by research firm Gartner looked into social networks' need for a more structurally sound revenue stream, and came to the conclusion that to maintain viability and competitiveness, they will soon enter the financial services industry.
Gartner: Next, Social Networks Will Sell Insurance, Become Banks
Launched in beta today in Minneapolis St Paul, the plan is to launch Mashalot nationally in early March 2012 at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. Fully integrated with Facebook , Mashalot helps businesses grow their fan base while allowing consumers to leverage their own social networks (Facebook in essence) to save money on products and services.
Mashalot – the first integrated social online marketplace? | Futurelab – We are marketing and customer strategy consultants with a passion for profit and innovation.
Mumbai-based GrOffr is already applying the group buying concept to real estate in India, and now Maisonia Deal aims to do something similar for those building a new home in France. By negotiating on behalf of groups of individuals planning to build a new home, Maisonia Deal says it can save buyers as much as 30 percent. Consumers begin by visiting the Maisonia Deal site and indicating the region in which they’d like to build their house.
In France, a group buying site for new-home construction | Springwise
Mobile phones have been allowing users to earn cash by performing small tasks for some time already — take the Field Agent app for iPhone for example — but Dutch Roamler recently launched an effort that adds a new, location-based twist.
iPhone users get paid for small, location-based tasks | Springwise
Online payments may be easier to make than their offline counterparts in general, but there’s still at least some pain involved in entering account numbers and other information.

