Publication Type

Conference Proceeding Article

Version

submittedVersion

Publication Date

1-2009

Abstract

Nowadays, many Websites have adopted the really simple syndication (RSS) technology to deliver online content to visitors. In this paper, I build an analytical model to examine how the offering of RSS feeds impact the number of visitors, total traffic load, and profit of Websites in a competitive setting. I show that although RSS can always attract more visitors, it may reduce the Website's profit. Interestingly, in a competitive market there are cases that the RSS feeds hurt the offering Website but benefit the competing Website instead. The conditions under which these will happen are derived. I also study the simultaneous RSS-adoption game and show that different equilibrium outcomes will appear under different parameter combinations. Applying my findings to the practice, I suggest that offering RSS feeds could become a competitive disadvantage, and that certain types of Websites, such as Websites providing free content, should not offer RSS feeds.

Discipline

Communication Technology and New Media | Computer Sciences | Management Information Systems

Research Areas

Information Systems and Management

Publication

Proceedings of the 42nd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences: HICSS '09 ; Waikoloa, Big Island, Hawaii, 5-8 January

First Page

1

Last Page

10

ISBN

9780769534503

Identifier

10.1109/HICSS.2009.327

Publisher

IEEE Computer Society

City or Country

Los Alamitos, CA

Additional URL

http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/HICSS.2009.842

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