This article is about a term used in economics. For other uses, see service (disambiguation).

In economics and marketing, a service is the non-material equivalent of a good. Service provision has been defined as an economic activity that does not result in ownership, and this is what differentiates it from providing physical goods. It is claimed to be a process that creates benefits by facilitating either a change in customers, a change in their physical possessions, or a change in their intangible assets.

By supplying some level of skill, ingenuity, and experience, providers of a service participate in an economy without the restrictions of carrying stock (inventory) or the need to concern themselves with bulky raw materials. On the other hand, their investment in expertise does require marketing and upgrading in the face of competition which has equally few physical restrictions.

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NPR Topics: Technology

'Marketplace' Report: Fun Gadgets In Rough Times
Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0400
Rather than going out in the evenings, Americans appear to be spending time and money on new gadgets. The U.S. government says consumer electronic sales were up 4.8 percent in July.
Clockwatcher Explains Phelps' Win
Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0400
Michael Phelps won his record-tying seventh gold medal by a fraction of a fingernail, just 0.01 second. Even when you study the photos and the video, it's tough to tell who came in first. Christophe Berthaud, the director of Olympic timekeeping for Omega, the official timekeeper at the games, explains the system used to time swimmers.
Guerrilla Ad Campaign Pushes Boundaries
Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:25:00 -0400
Troy Hitch talks about You Suck at Photoshop, a hit series of Web videos created to explore viral marketing concepts. Hitch is the creative director for the agency Big Fat Brain.

L.A. Times - Technology News

Intel, Yahoo join forces on Internet-TV venture
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Hoping to plant their flags on the screens of Internet-connected television sets, Intel Corp. and Yahoo Inc. unveiled a new project Wednesday to populate those screens with tiny programs called widgets.
Researchers produce blood in lab from stem cells
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The discovery marks a technical advance but has a long way to go before it can be considered an alternative to donor blood. Scientists said Tuesday that they had devised a way to grow large quantities of blood in the lab using human embryonic stem cells, potentially making blood drives a thing of the past.
Hewlett-Packard's profit rises 14% on strong computer sales
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The company's revenue increases 10% from the year-earlier quarter. Hewlett-Packard Co. rose above the economic gloom Tuesday and reported a 14% rise in quarterly profit thanks to strong computer sales.

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