oDesk has been on my radar for a long while now, but it finally launched this week (after a 2 year beta!). The service allows you to hire coders from around the world in a Rent-a-Coder style marketplace. One difference is that oDesk allows you to maintain long-term relationships, rather than working on a per-project basis. It also allows you to monitor your workers using webcams and screengrabs (whatever happened to coding in your pyjamas?). From the site:
oDesk enables buyers of services to hire, manage, and pay technology service providers from around the world. Buyers choose oDesk for top global talent, comprehensive management tools, and a flexible hourly payment model. Service Providers choose oDesk for challenging jobs and guaranteed payment. Every day, hundreds of buyers and providers work together through oDesk - a unique company at the forefront of reinventing work.
I love this idea in theory - you can build your very own Web 2.0 startup incredibly cheaply by tapping into the global workforce. But in practice I find these services a real challenge - as Brian Breslin points out, software development isn't like shopping at Best Buy.