I think it is interesting how some companies are resorting to the anybody-can-try approach to development. One of the most popular examples of this that I can think of is the Ansari X-Prize created by Sir Richard Branson that went to the first non-government group that was able to send a man to space. Now, beginning in 2009, you can pay only $190,000 for a trip to space through Virgin Galactic. I am not aware of any other group that is trying to, or is as far, in commercializing trips to space. Their development techniques have seemed to pay off.

More recently, Yahoo is giving away the code for Yahoo Mail, the most popular email service in the world in hopes that independent developers will some up with something cool. Also, Netflix is offering a million to those that can improve its movie suggestions. It will be interesting if the public will be able to offer as good of a solution as Branson was able to get. With all of the smart people in the world, I bet that someone will be able to step up to the challenge.

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