What it means: In the post-PC era, services rule, and Amazon is getting quite good at offering services consumers want.

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Across the system financial incentives are built in to encourage services to adopt good practice from offering smoking cessation through to ensuring hip and knee patients are seen quickly.

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Since Intuit is primarily a services firm, it cares more about offering a good customer experience than promoting a specific mobile payment technology, Hylen said.

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Established last summer, the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Initiative (TSCTI) -- partnering the U.S. with nine African countries -- brings to bear the resources of the U.S. departments of Defense, State and Treasury along with those of the U.S. Agency for International Development, offering not only services such as expanded joint military training but also developmental assistance aimed at promoting good governance and encouraging the growth of civil society.

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