(Bloomberg View) — On-demand companies are known for using technology to match service providers with customers who need things like taxi rides, housecleaners and couriers. But these companies aren't just for concierge-type services.

Some startups are trying to usher white-collar workers into the on-demand economy as employees, rather than as customers. If these companies succeed, it could be an interesting development in the contract labor debate that has been sparked by the advent and rapid adoption of on-demand services.

Last week, a former PayPal and Microsoft executive, Rakesh Agrawal, introduced redesign|mobile, a web-based marketplace for skilled labor. Agrawal once worked for the expert network Pacific Crest Securities as a contractor who hopped on the phone to explain certain tech topics to hedge funds and mutual-fund managers.

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