Google seems to be going for engagement, not shipments. Google’s new features are almost all software based and the fact that many of them will be rolling out to older devices is a sure sign that Google is using hardware to drive engagement rather than make money. This means that its hardware strategy makes no sense as I have discussed...
WhatsApp interoperability is a glaring omission. Facebook has launched its first piece of hardware which aims to drive engagement with Facebook’s Messenger platform but its lack of interoperability with WhatsApp will hinder the appeal of the device. Portal from Facebook consists of two devices: Portal which looks just like the Amazon Echo Show at $199 and Portal+ with a 15.6”...
Forced sale creeps closer. Snap has sent a memo that inadvertently admits that its business model is fundamentally flawed that I think can only lead to the company being forcibly acquired. Two things stand out in the 6,000-word memo: First, UX redesign. The company admits that the redesign that led to a decline in daily active users in Q2 18...
Amazon gains a short-lived edge over Google. Amazon is enabling its skills to talk to one another in a move that will greatly enhance the functionality and appeal of Alexa over its rivals unless they immediately follow suit. I suspect that Google’s hardware PR people will now be frantically editing the keynotes and presentations set for next Tuesday (October 9th)...
TME is different. It makes money. Tencent Music Entertainment is no Spotify or Apple Music but it has many more users than both of these put together and critically, it makes money. Tencent Music has filed for an IPO on the NYSE at a mooted valuation of $30bn which works out at about 11.5x 2018 sales and 57.0x 2018 2018....
Toys for workers. Microsoft has given its Surface line-up a badly needed refresh and is having a go at Bose and Sony with the launch of Surface Headphones. Of the much-anticipated phone sized Windows 10 folding device (Andromeda), there was no sign but the indications are that Microsoft has not killed this project. The new launches were: First, Surface Pro 6:...
A quiet integration should be going on in the background. In light of recent issues, Tencent has announced a re-organisation that I think offers a golden opportunity to fix a number of the issues that have been hampering its long-term potential. Tencent’s “strategic upgrade” includes the formation of two new business units and the merging of others to create business...
Another move-fast service that broke. Facebook has disclosed that it has been hacked with the loss of data from about 50m of its users which will only serve to further undermine faith in Facebook, belief in its commitment to security and privacy as well as its AI. Facebook has discovered a flaw in one of its functions called “view as”...
Toyota could trigger an industry cave-in to Google. It looks like Toyota (see here) is about to allow Android Auto access to the infotainment units in its vehicles in a sign that Google is slowly winning a grip on the auto industry and that its own SDL initiative is failing. Android Auto is a piece of software that resides in...
Richard is founder, owner of research company, Radio Free Mobile. He has 16 years of experience working in sell side equity research. During his 11 year tenure at Nomura Securities, he focused on the equity coverage of the Global Technology sector.
Google – Silver lining
G+ failure saves Google from major problem. Google is finally shutting down its attempt at competing with Facebook in Social Networking following a security lapse which, due to the inactivity on the service, has had very little impact. Google+ or G+ was Google’s fourth attempt at social networking which was launched in June 2011 and in which large amounts of...