Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Philippines-BPO-outsourcing-market-expected-to-grow.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Philippines-BPO-outsourcing-market-expected-to-grow.html Experts widely predict that despite the global economic downturn, the demand for business process outsourcing will continue to increase – particularly as firms get creative about ways of driving down costs. Amid this trend, there is evidence that traditionally smaller outsourcing markets such as the Philippines are advancing on larger rivals like India. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Downturn-boosts-freelance-opportunities-in-US.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Downturn-boosts-freelance-opportunities-in-US.html As the effects of the economic downturn continue to impact the hiring budgets of firms worldwide, some workers are finding a bright spot: rising opportunities for freelance and contract work. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Laidoff-IT-workers-strike-out-on-their-own.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Laidoff-IT-workers-strike-out-on-their-own.html The multiple opportunities available to laid-off technology workers who want to work for themselves has been highlighted in a new Computerworld article. Some IT employees have been using their skills to start their own consulting businesses, while others turn to online employment marketplaces to find freelance and contract jobs. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/India-and-the-US-remain-tense-about-outsourcing.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/India-and-the-US-remain-tense-about-outsourcing.html Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s visit last week has been dubbed by some the High Technology Cooperation Dialogue. Pressed by Indian governmental and business leaders about what it sees as an increasingly protectionist stance in the U.S., Clinton pledged support for working with India for better high-tech relations, but offered no specifics. "Outsourcing is a concern for many communities and businesses in my country, so how we handle that is something that we’re very focused on doing in a way that doesn’t disrupt the great flow of trade and services that go between our countries," Clinton said in an interview on Indian television. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Palm-releases-kit-to-software-developers.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Palm-releases-kit-to-software-developers.html After a long wait and much anticipation, software developers can finally gain widespread access to the Palm Mojo Software Development Kit to create apps for the Palm Pre. On Thursday, the Mojo SDK was made available on the company’s webOS developer page, which also offers guidelines, a forum for developers and other documentation intended to assist in the process. But will the release of the kit help alleviate the lack of applications available on the company’s new smartphone, a factor viewed by some as a potential roadblock to its success? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Indian-outsourcing-services-maintain-growth-in-recession.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Indian-outsourcing-services-maintain-growth-in-recession.html India’s role as a top player among outsourcing destinations has remained unchallenged for quite some time. In fact, AT Kearny has listed it at the number one spot on its Global Services Location Index – which ranks attractive offshoring destinations – since the list’s inception five years ago. However, in recent years, there have been many who have questioned whether the country could withstand competition from other locations with competitive pricing and a specialized skill set. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/China-commits-to-raising-outsourcing-profile.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/China-commits-to-raising-outsourcing-profile.html India may still be the dominant country when it comes to offshore outsourcing, but that situation could change in the coming years as China makes a bid to challenge its rival. Earlier this year, the government chose 20 cities as outsourcing hubs to attract more international investment and provided them with tax breaks, labor hours systems and employment subsidies. Now, the country has announced further policies designed to boost the sector. On Wednesday, the Chinese government said it would increase the financial incentives given to companies working within the outsourcing industry, particularly within the 20 hub cities. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Recession-impacts-salaries-attrition-in-Indian-BPO-sector.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Recession-impacts-salaries-attrition-in-Indian-BPO-sector.html Earlier this month, the association that supports and promotes India’s business process outsourcing predicted a bright future for the sector. While the past year has presented challenges, there is undoubtedly strong growth ahead, NASSCOM said at the CEO Summit 2009. In fact, Som Mittal, the president of NASSCOM, forecast that outsourcing to India is likely to increase threefold by 2020, earning aggregate revenues of $225 billion. "While the short-term challenges exist, the potential for this industry is tremendous and the industry will not be demand constrained," he said. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/These-days-Twitter-is-a-jobskill-must.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/These-days-Twitter-is-a-jobskill-must.html There is abundant evidence that Twitter is not only being used as a way for people to discuss their everyday activities. In fact, Twitter has evolved into a major component of many companies’ marketing strategies. This means businesses are scrambling to make sure they are not left behind when it comes to making the most of these 140-character messages that can reach countless "followers." http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Software-developers-can-start-earning-from-Palm-Pre-apps-in-September.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/3750/Software-developers-can-start-earning-from-Palm-Pre-apps-in-September.html This week, Palm announced the latest phase of its strategy to take on Apple’s iPhone and Research in Motion’s Blackberry by offering a range of innovative applications for users to purchase for the Palm Pre. According to the company, software developers will be able to begin charging customers for downloading their applications from an ecommerce beta program in September. The move follows last month’s release of the Mojo Software Development Kit, which was viewed as a step forward in Palm’s efforts to strengthen relationships with developers.