Style.com, a Conde Nast unit, offers up images from the shows while they are still in progress, streams video and provides highlight packages reminiscent of around-the-clock sports coverage.

FORBES: How Every Look From Every Fashion Show Is Analyzed And Searchable In Hours

So if an inventor shows her invention working at a trade show, demonstrates it for an angel investor group or offers a single unit for sale, it will not receive a patent even if she applies the next day.

FORBES: New Patent Law Means Trouble For Tech Entrepreneurs

Its NBCU unit is relatively small by comparison, but offers room for improvement and enjoys low expectations.

FORBES: Comcast Q3 Revs Top Estimates; EPS In Line; Shrs Inch Higher

Comparable recent spectrum transactions have been at much higher prices per POP (unit of population) than either of these offers represent.

FORBES: Is Clearwire's "Special Committee" Finally Doing Its Proper Job?

Customer-service representatives at Bell Mobility, the wireless unit of Bell Canada, can make instant offers based on a customer's calling patterns, his age and the way similar customers have reacted to such offers.

ECONOMIST: Always-on people

Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney's 64-unit franchise, Painting With a Twist, which offers painting parties and wine tastings, has invested heavily in social media.

MSN: The Biggest Lessons Franchisors Learned About Social Media - Business - Small business - Entrepreneur.com | NBC News

After renting the condo for the last four years, she drew six offers in less than one week after listing the unit in April.

WSJ: Home Prices Jump 10.9%, Largest Annual Gain in 7 Years