T-Mobile is acquiring Sprint. The deal makes a lot of sense, particularly in the context of 5G — will regulators look forward or backward? Then, Microsoft continues to own the CIO relationship.
April 2018
Exponent Podcast: Zillow and Sustaining Aggregation
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss Zillow, Aggregation, and Integration. Listen to it here.
Open, Closed, and Privacy Follow-Up; Facebook Earnings; Notes on Facebook Earnings
A follow-up to Open, Closed, and Privacy, then multiple notes on Facebook’s earnings: the company’s executives sounded confident, and they should be.
Open, Closed, and Privacy
Just as encryption is only viable on closed systems, so it is that increased privacy regulations will only entrench walled gardens. That should affect thinking on regulation.
Google Earnings, Google’s Cost Drivers, Other Bets Versus Google Ventures
Google’s Earnings show rapidly rising expenses, which makes sense as the company seeks to grow outside of its core competency. Plus, why even Google is often better off investing instead of expanding.
Google’s Messaging Announcement, Allo’s Go-to-Market Problem, Chat: The Open Alternative
Google’s announced Chat, which is not a new messaging service but the adoption of a new messaging protocol to replace SMS. It’s not an ideal outcome, but the only possible one.
Netflix Earnings and the Video Value Chain, The Conditions of Aggregation, Comcast and Netflix and the New Bundle
Netflix’s earnings are a reminder of the power that comes from not just aggregation but also integration. It also reveals that Aggregators are more likely to gain economic power when suppliers are already modularized. Plus, Netflix and Comcast start to build the new bundle.
The ZTE Ban, Tech’s Trade War Risk, China’s Delayed Approval and Apple’s Pain
The U.S. government banned companies from selling to ZTE for issues unrelated to the current trade war; that may not much matter, and Apple and other U.S. tech companies could soon feel the pain.
Zillow, Aggregation, and Integration
Zillow fits the description of an aggregator, but it hasn’t transformed its industry due to a lack of integration. Now it is trying to do exactly that.
Exponent Podcast: Facebook Fatigue
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss The Facebook Current. Listen to it here.