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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NYT > World Business

As Food Prices Soar, Brazil and Argentina React in Opposite Ways
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:00:53 -0000
In Brazil, the government is encouraging farmers to produce more for export while prices are high. But Argentina is focused on encouraging farmers to sell more at home.
China and Iraq Reach $3 Billion Oil Service Deal
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:17:42 -0000
China and Iraq have signed a $3 billion deal revising a deal for China’s biggest oil company to help develop an oil field, according to the Iraqi Embassy in Beijing.
U.S. Moves Toward International Accounting Rules
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:07:36 -0000
The S.E.C. moved to require all American companies to use international accounting standards by 2016.
Data Points to Downturn in Germany, With a Ripple Effect Feared
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:51:47 -0000
The odds of a mild recession in Germany rose significantly Tuesday, as data showed the outlook for business had plunged to its lowest level since a downturn in 1993.
Ricoh Buys Office Equipment Distributor in U.S.
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:03:05 -0000
The Japanese copier and printer maker said that it would acquire Ikon Office Solutions for about $1.62 billion to help it expand overseas.
Research Company Loses One Suitor and Rejects Another
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:02:39 -0000
The British market research company Taylor Nelson Sofres rejected again a hostile bid from the WPP Group, but analysts said the company would have difficulty evading WPP.

Portfolio.com: Business Travel

Table for One: Minneapolis
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Play the word-association game with Minneapolis, and one of the first responses will invariably be "cold." Yes, Minnesota winters can be brutal, but the months-long stretches of freezing temperatures have fostered an abundant array of indoor activities, including first-rate theater, music, visual arts, and literary scenes. And most recently, dining. The city is coming into its own as a culinary destination, in part because many Minneapolis chefs are taking advantage of being smack-dab in the middle of one of the nation's most productive agricultural regions. That proximity means exceptional grass-fed beef, exquisite farmstead cheeses, artisanal grains, and the nation's best foie gras can be all put to extremely good use. The compact business district, a 15-minute cab ride from the airport, has the area's deepest restaurant pool—and what feels like more steak houses per capita than perhaps any other American city. Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Wolfgang Puck have outposts here, and one of the country's top microchains, the Oceanaire Seafood Room (and its solo-diner-friendly oyster bar), got its start in landlocked Minneapolis, accessing saltwater fish from both coasts via Northwest Airlines' busy hub. Visitors should also explore the mile-long stretch of Asian restaurants on Nicollet Avenue just south of downtown that locals call Eat Street, as well as the Midtown Global Market, an Art Deco-era Sears store now home to several dozen mom-and-pop startups. Many don't-miss downtown restaurants (view slideshow) are plugged into the Skyway System, a human Habitrail of second-story bridges that connect more than 60 city blocks, and a blessing for anyone unaccustomed to blizzard conditions. In nicer weather, follow the natives' example by booking a sidewalk, rooftop, or patio table—the warmth won't last long. Downtown: Bank 88 South Sixth Street 612-656-3255 The room alone is worth a visit: a soaring Art Moderne banking lobby (pictured above) paneled in enough teak to trigger an endangered-species alert and decorated with carved medallions symbolizing the region's abundant natural resources. The former tellers' windows have been opened up as a chef's counter, a prime party-of-one address for enjoying New American cooking: a crackling pork chop with dainty fried green tomatoes, tartare two ways (mellow salmon and spicy tuna), delicate pan-seared halibut, vibrant meal-in-a-bowl soups, and pastry chef Liz Matheson's ingenious and inexpensive three-bite desserts. Go ahead, order two. Dress: Suits to khakis Prices: Expensive Reservations: A must for lunch, suggested for dinner Close to: Located in the Westin Minneapolis Downtown: Solera 900 Hennepin Avenue 612-338-0062 Single diners will feel right at home at the long, curvaceous tapas bar, where even the most reserved Minnesotans will chat to strangers while grazing over chef Tim McKee's meticulously prepared small plates. The vast assortment includes velvety black cod finished with a smoked paprika vinaigrette, and deviled eggs filled with blue crab and honey-glazed veal. The equally lengthy all-Spanish wine and sherry lists feel like a quick Iberian getaway, and the popular open-air rooftop lounge boasts a hopping late-night scene targeting the 25-to-40 crowd.  Dress: Fashionable Prices: Moderate Reservations: Recommended for a table; not accepted for the tapas bar Close to: Chambers Minneapolis Hotel, W Minneapolis–The Foshay  Warehouse District: 112 Eatery 112 North 3rd Street 612-343-7696 The city's toughest reservation can be a breeze for solo walk-ins content to take a seat at the snug brick-lined bar, where they can dive headlong into chef Isaac Becker's eclectic fare. The menu at this hotspot easily moves from modest bites—a refreshing crab salad, sizzling pounded lamb cooled by goat's-milk yogurt, a bacon and fried-egg sandwich slathered in scorching harissa—to more substantial dishes such as house-cut tagliatelle tossed with foie gras meatballs and a category-killing burger. The tres leches cake is not to be missed. Regulars know to book a booth in the long, narrow downstairs café and save the ho-hum second-floor dining room for tourists. Dress: Casual Prices: Moderate Reservations: A must for a table; not accepted for the bar Close to: Graves 601 Hotel Midtown: Town Talk Diner 2702 ½ East Lake Street 612-722-1312 The chattiest bartenders in town preside over this retooled 1940s diner, dispensing retro cocktails and conversation with equal aplomb. Back in the cramped kitchen, chef Tor Westgard cranks out modern spins on short-order classics. The highlights include fried chicken over wild-rice waffles, duck mini-burgers, and anything that comes out of the deep fryer, especially the batter-dipped sweet-and-sour pickles and the strangely elegant cheese curds, a local fare favorite elevated to high art. If the desserts include pineapple upside-down cake, order it. Dress: Casual Prices: Moderate Reservations: Suggested but not necessary Close to: Not much, but an easy five-minute ride from downtown via the Hiawatha light-rail line Downtown: Vincent 1100 Nicollet Mall You'll leave this expense-account establishment knowing at least one Minneapolitan: chef Vincent Francoual, who makes it a habit to meet and greet his customers. A window seat facing Target's Nicollet Mall headquarters is just the spot to watch the city stroll by while digging into a burger stuffed with braised short ribs and Gouda and a small mountain of golden matchstick fries. Traditional bistro fare also includes escargot drenched in garlic butter, expertly prepared omelets, lavishly stuffed crepes, and a garden-fresh nicoise. Cheeses are chosen with affection and authority, and for something sweet, Francoual offers his favorite childhood dessert—petite madeleines served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Dress: Suits to khakis Prices: Expensive Reservations: Suggested for a table Close to: Hyatt Regency, Hilton, and Millennium hotels South Minneapolis: Corner Table 4257 Nicollet Avenue South 612-823-0011 Local ingredients are featured at chef Scott Pampuch's unassuming cafe, which clocks the seasons like a finely tuned Cartier Roadster. In August, the menu is swimming in sweet corn and tomatoes, and if the thermometer is below zero, then it's all root vegetables and Minnesota-raised beef, poultry, and fish. Place your faith in the five-course tasting menu, which changes daily to reflect availability from area farmers. The intelligent and affordable wine list is a pleasant bonus. Dress: Casual Prices: Moderate Reservations: Suggested but not necessary Close to: Not much, but an easy 10-minute cab ride from downtown University of Minnesota: Al's Breakfast 413 14th Avenue Southeast 612-331-9991 Skip room service and greet the morning at this local legend, a funky 14-seat shoebox where generations of U of M nobodies and bigwigs alike have bonded, shoulder-to-shoulder, over "Wally Blues" (walnut-blueberry pancakes), haystack-like hash browns, tender waffles, and poached eggs drizzled with silky hollandaise. Just don't plan to linger over a third cup of coffee; the turnover-minded staff will reflexively pour it into a to-go cup. Dress: Casual Prices: Downright cheap Reservations: Not accepted Close to: University of Minnesota campus, a five-minute cab ride from downtown Related LinksMinnesota Twins' Ballpark Dispute Heads for MediationHouses of PainA Nation of Staycationers
Table for One: Denver
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Denver may not be at the culinary heights to which it aspires, but it has already come a long way from the buffalo burgers and green chili that were typical fare a decade ago. In the past several years, the more relaxed, affordable, outdoorsy lifestyle of this Rocky Mountain gateway has drawn seasoned chefs from around the globe. They've brought with them everything from savory French food to some of the most creative Italian cooking this side of New York.That's good news for the 50,000 or so visitors who will be in Denver for the Democratic National Convention. The city has virtually every kind of cuisine, ethnic and otherwise, friendly bar dining, communal tables, and someone always looking for good table conversation. And while finding great local cuisine isn't hard, you'll have to venture a few blocks away from the relatively new convention center at the east end of LoDo (Lower Downtown). Here, our picks for solo dining a mile high. Lower Downtown: Snooze2262 Larimer Street303-297-0700Snooze, a local favorite near the ballpark in LoDo, may be the best morning haunt in town. Owner Jon Schlegel, along with chef/partner Brenda Buenviaje, have come up with a.m. originals such as the Snooze Spuds Deluxe—heaping portions of hash brown with melted cheese and eggs—and the Molten Chocolate French Toast—challah filled with Ghiradelli chocolate and vanilla crème anglaise. If you like an early start, there's also a full bar with morning cocktails ranging from pomegranate mimosas to morning manhattans. It's so casual you almost feel like you could show up in pajamas and no one would say a word.Dress: CasualPrices: InexpensiveReservations: Not necessaryClose to: LoDo and Coors Field Cherry Creek: Barolo Grill3030 East Sixth Avenue303-393-1040Depending on who you ask, this Northern Italian classic has the best bar in town for sipping wine, dining, or both. The bartenders are incredibly knowledgeable about pairing wines with house dishes such as braised duckling or pancetta-wrapped salmon. They know their pasta too. Owner Blair Taylor takes all of his employees to Italy each year to study up on the region's flavors. Barolo also places a big focus on wines, stocking more than 850 varieties, more than 90 percent of them Italian. You can't reserve a spot at the bar—but if it's full when you arrive, it's worth the wait. Dress: Business casualPrices: ExpensiveReservations: Necessary for a table; not accepted for the barClose to: The JW Marriott Hotel at Cherry Creek Larimer Square: Bistro Vendôme1420 Larimer Square303-825-3232People-watching is one of the things that's made this classic French bistro so popular. It's located in Larimer Square, once the hangout of members of the Beat Generation (i.e. Jack Kerouac and company) and now a gentrified neighborhood with small boutiques and some of the city's best restaurants. A petite jardin adorns Bistro Vendôme's outside patio, where most prefer to dine and watch the crowds (weather permitting). The restaurant can only accommodate 48 inside, but the close-together tables are conducive to striking up conversation with neighbors. The small bar is also comfortable for singles. Food is French brasserie style—steak au poivre, crepes, roasted chicken, and what many claim are the best fries in the city—and the martinis are legendary. Dress: CasualPrices: ModerateReservations: RecommendedClose to: Hotel Teatro and the Denver Center for the Performing ArtsHotel Monaco: Panzano909 17th Street303-296-3525The scent of garlic permeates Panzano, a Northern Italian spot in the Hotel Monaco. Dishes such as ahi tuna with avocado and white truffle oil, house-made fettuccini with shrimp and pancetta, and grilled lamb with borlotti beans keep Panzano at the head of Denver's "best restaurant" list. This is a big, raucous place, but the large bar is good for solo diners and a fine place to sip a glass of wine from the extensive list. Lunch is a power scene; evenings are more laid-back.Dress: Business elegantPrices: ExpensiveReservations: Recommended Close to: The 16th Street Mall and the financial districtHighlands Neighborhood: Sushi Sasa2401 15th Street303-433-7272Sushi restaurants can be a good choice for eating alone—the best seats in the house are usually at the bar; the preparation provides entertainment. But raw fish isn't an obvious pick in a city far from the sea. The two-year-old Sushi Sasa is the exception, a tiny neighborhood eatery that draws raves for its Kumamoto oysters, black cod, and toro tartare. Sit in the well-lit upstairs or head to the downstairs lounge for a drink. Just don't try to pronounce the name of the place more than twice after sampling the sake. Dress: Anything goesPrices: ModerateReservations:  Not needed for the barClose to: DowntownGolden Triangle: Palettes100 West 14th Avenue ParkwayDenver Art Museum303-534-1455If you're looking for an escape, head to the Denver Art Museum for some culture, then to the café run by Kevin Taylor, who helped kick off the local gourmet dining craze. You won't be alone in your aloneness here—or disappointed by the food, which includes an award-winning sweet corn soup with guacamole and barbecued shrimp, and Colorado lamb rib chops with lentils and spinach. Taylor uses only ingredients that are fresh and seasonal. Dress: CasualPrices: Moderate to expensiveReservations: SuggestedClose to: DowntownRelated LinksBest of the FestFace to Face With the Monster ThickburgerFace to Face With the Monster Thickburger
No WiFi in the Sky
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
The long and winding road to in-flight internet service led to a dead end at London's Heathrow Airport back in February 2003. About a month after Lufthansa first tested Boeing's satellite-based internet technology, Boeing herded a gaggle of media types onto a similarly equipped British Airways transatlantic flight.Stan Deal, charged with selling Boeing's Connexion internet service to airlines and travelers, was ecstatic. The test went swimmingly, and everyone on board had surfed the Web without a glitch. When we landed, however, there was a shortage of Boeing-supplied limos. Deal made a beeline for the taxis, but I suggested the Heathrow Express train, which would get us into London in just 20 minutes. Deal would have none of it.As we crawled through the morning traffic for two hours, I hammered Deal over pricing. Boeing's plan to charge passengers $30 a flight for internet access was insane, especially in the introductory phase. "We pay eight grand to fly business class from New York, and B.A. will pour me as much $50-a-bottle Champagne as I can drink. But if I want to use the internet, I gotta pay $30?" I said, with what I thought was undeniable logic. "You can't nickel-and-dime high-yield customers like that."Deal would have none of that, either. Boeing launched Connexion in the summer of 2004 at $30 a pop. Lufthansa and a dozen other international carriers—although not B.A. or any U.S. airline—installed it. But passengers refused to pay. Connexion died, largely unmourned, on December 31, 2006. Airlines that shelled out about $500,000 a plane were left in the lurch, and Boeing lost an estimated $300 million. The only bright spot: When Boeing gave away internet access in Connexion's final months, passenger usage skyrocketed.Almost two years later, we're still essentially nowhere with in-flight access, which is shaping up as the final, possibly unconquerable, internet frontier.Lufthansa, Connexion's biggest booster, continues to search for a replacement system for its overseas flights. But as Connexion proved, satellite internet is costly to install and expensive to operate, and access speeds are pokey. A European system called OnAir, sponsored by Boeing's largest competitor, Airbus, also seems stalled. And Aircell, a much-publicized service that promises to offer domestic in-flight internet using a cheap, fast air-to-ground system, is months behind schedule.You've surely heard of Aircell. With great fanfare and compliant mainstream media coverage, it has announced deals to wire aircraft operated by American, Delta, and Virgin America airlines. It has a brand name for its internet service, Gogo Inflight. It has a pricing structure: $9.95 to $12.95 a flight. Aircell has everything but service. Earlier this year, American Airlines wired 15 of its Boeing 767s, but the internet access has yet to be turned on for commercial use. It's barely been tested. According to American, Gogo was used in June on two "dress rehearsal" flights and tested on two additional flights last week. Yet the airline won't publicly commit to a date when it will finally begin what it describes as a "three- to six-month trial to customers.""This thing should have been working months ago," one frustrated American executive told me last week. "Obviously, there's something wrong."Why the delay? Aircell isn't talking and refused repeated requests for an interview. Instead, its public-relations agency referred me back to its press releases, most of which said Aircell would be operating by now.(August 20 update: American Airlines finally announced the Internet trial would start today. American claims passengers can now buy Internet service on its 767s, which fly between New York and three cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami.)Aircell's deals with Delta and Virgin America are also less than meets the eye.Earlier this month, Aircell and Delta claimed the airline's entire fleet of 330 domestic aircraft would be wired by next summer. Delta even told some reporters that it would have 75 planes equipped by the end of the year. But that rollout schedule seems overly aggressive. The Federal Aviation Administration, which must issue a certificate for each type of aircraft that Aircell wants to wire, says the company's application for the MD-80 series planes that Delta uses has just been submitted. The spokesperson I talked to said Aircell's application wouldn't even be addressed "until the fall."Aircell and Virgin America announced their deal almost a year ago, just weeks after Virgin America launched service in August 2007. But the F.A.A. says Aircell hasn't applied for a certificate to install its equipment on Virgin America's Airbus aircraft.In fairness, Aircell isn't the only in-flight internet service that, well, isn't. A company called Row 44 has deals with Southwest and Alaska airlines. Like Connexion before it, Row 44 says it will use a satellite system. But when Alaska announced its plans last September, it promised tests by the spring. In January, when Southwest announced its plans, testing was supposed to begin on four aircraft this summer. Neither has materialized.Late last year, JetBlue wired a single plane with a proprietary system that can accommodate limited in-flight emailing and instant messaging. But the program is still being tested, JetBlue told me last week, and no decision has been made about its future.What's keeping in-flight internet from becoming a reality? I wish I knew; nobody I've spoken to knows or is willing to say. I'm beginning to blame myself. If I'd just been more persuasive in that taxi five years ago, Connexion might still be around, and you could have been reading this from the sky. The Fine Print…The Transportation Security Administration says travelers toting laptops with "checkpoint friendly" bags won't be required to remove their computers at the security checkpoints. But the bags, which are just coming to market, are fraught with compromises: They must have a laptop-only section; nothing except the laptop can be placed in the special compartment; the bag must be opened to expose the laptop; and the T.S.A. reserves the right to demand the laptops be taken out of the case. Related LinksFlying on Empty Airbus Gets a Lift Deals Taxi for Takeoff

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