Facebook’s FTC fine is being pilloried, but it really is large and unprecedented. Plus, why Facebook critics were asleep at the wheel. Then, Microsoft saving Apple has an analogy to IBM, and is a potential argument in favor of antitrust action.
The New Dropbox, The Cloud OS, Connecting Versus File-Sharing
The New Dropbox is making a bid to be the Cloud OS, something only Microsoft has pursued. It took Dropbox a long time to realize the opportunity, but better late than never.
Tech and Antitrust Follow-up, Google Buys Looker, Salesforce Buys Tableau
Sometimes analysis is about what will happen, not what should happen. Then, two big acquisitions in the data analytics face: Google’s purchase of Looker makes sense, while Salesforce is paying a steep price for Tableau.
Cloudera and Pivotal, Box and Zuora
Four companies that are getting hammered in the stock market after releasing growth projections that missed expectations; it’s not clear that all of them will come back.
Microsoft Build, Microsoft’s Strategic Clarity, An Interview with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella
Microsoft’s Build was good for what it had — and what it didn’t, even accidentally. Microsoft’s future is about meeting real business needs, not wowing customers. Plus, an interview with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Microsoft, Slack, Zoom, and the SaaS Opportunity
The Zoom and Slack IPOs show what Microsoft is missing in its growth story: a way to acquire new customers.
Microsoft’s Earnings, Microsoft’s Growth Opportunities, Facebook’s Earnings
Microsoft is a trillion dollar company, and has more growth opportunities than ever; Facebook, meanwhile, remains firmly in control of its own destiny when it comes to driving revenue growth in the long run.
Google Cloud Next, Anthos, Google Cloud and Open Source
The Google Cloud Next keynote was a big improvement: Google Cloud is focusing on its go-to-market strategy, and building products that make tactical sense relative to AWS.
Pinterest S-1, Zoom S-1, The Enterprise-Consumer Flip-Flop
Pinterest’s S-1 shows why too much funding can be bad for startups, while Zoom’s S-1 shows the benefits the come from being great. That, by extension, is a result of the enterprise and consumer markets flip-flopping.
Box’s Earnings, Box’s Microsoft Problem, Dropbox’s Earnings
Box’s earnings are being framed in the context of Dropbox, but the real competitor is Microsoft. Dropbox, meanwhile, is charting a different path.