Today it became official across most of the business press that Ebay are indeed afraid of Google and so are their investors. The papers and Internet sites are buzzing with the news that Ebay's head of PayPal seems to have resigned and as a result Whitman has instigated a major management reshuffle - which is corporate mumbo jumbo voodoo doooodooooo for "Oh, shit, we're up the panny without Pampers!".
And Ebay are indeed - largely thanks to Google. First they launched Google Base (what a disastrous name!) which is a monstrous, free classified service that could eat at some of Ebay's lower lying Web auction fruit.
Then last week Google launched Checkout, which over time could challenge Ebay's PayPal. All of this has royally spooked Ebay's investors such that their share price has regularly tumbled.
Soon Ebay stock may become so cheap that Microsoft will finally buy them - or, how about Google??!!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
HP's remodelling their offices!!! Zzzzzzzzzzzz...
According to Reuters "Hewlett-Packard Co., the world's second-largest personal computer maker, today announced plans to merge several hundred properties into fewer main sites as part of a cost-cutting plan announced a year ago.
The company has not decided which facilities to close, and has not yet said how much money it may save from the four-year effort. It will use some of the savings to add new features to its main offices and give them a "consistent look and feel," Hewlett-Packard of Palo Alto, California, said."
I mean come on, who cares? Has business news today reached such an all time low that this entirely uninteresting piece of old news (unless of course you're one of the laid off HP'ers) actually got coverage. HP's press departent must be the most surprised.
And HP are supposed to be cool for offering VOIP and wireless Internet access in their cafeteria? Er, OK, that even out blue's Big Blue!Microsoft to launch its own iPod & iTunes all-in-one music service
According to the Financial Times Microsoft will launch their own replica of the iPod and iTunes to try and become the Pepsi of the digital music market to Apple's Coke!
If true, this will deliver a massive strategy change by Microsoft as well as introduce the first real challenge to Apple's iTunes and iPods. The strategy change is because Microsoft will in effect be admitting that a software only approach does not work in certain consumer electronics markets.
First they cracked by launching the Xbox and for the first time ever built an all Microsoft product from scratch that seamlessly integrated software and hardware. Now they agree that Apple's hardware and software together approach makes a digital music player work better and simpler.
It also allows the product to build a single and more powerful brand for the user. If Microsoft admit that consumer electronics products that integrate hardware and software together are better this could have huge implications for other sectors of the market, including PC's and mobile phones.
Will Microsoft launch their own PC and mobile phone one day? Quite possibly.
Microsoft's move into the digital music market will also deliver a major innovation - wireless downloads. This is extremely smart and has to push Apple to deliver a wireless iPod possibly before Xmas this year - something we have been pushing for a long time.
Either way, it looks like the digital music market and possibly also the consumer electronics industry is in for some major changes and a formidable new competitor.
If true, this will deliver a massive strategy change by Microsoft as well as introduce the first real challenge to Apple's iTunes and iPods. The strategy change is because Microsoft will in effect be admitting that a software only approach does not work in certain consumer electronics markets.
First they cracked by launching the Xbox and for the first time ever built an all Microsoft product from scratch that seamlessly integrated software and hardware. Now they agree that Apple's hardware and software together approach makes a digital music player work better and simpler.
It also allows the product to build a single and more powerful brand for the user. If Microsoft admit that consumer electronics products that integrate hardware and software together are better this could have huge implications for other sectors of the market, including PC's and mobile phones.
Will Microsoft launch their own PC and mobile phone one day? Quite possibly.
Microsoft's move into the digital music market will also deliver a major innovation - wireless downloads. This is extremely smart and has to push Apple to deliver a wireless iPod possibly before Xmas this year - something we have been pushing for a long time.
Either way, it looks like the digital music market and possibly also the consumer electronics industry is in for some major changes and a formidable new competitor.
Microsoft does a major about face over open document format
Microsoft will offer free software that will allow Word, Excel and PowerPoint to handle documents in rival technology formats, responding to government requests for interoperability.
The translation tools will be developed and licensed as open source software, and will be offered as downloadable add-ins for several older versions of the Microsoft Office system, according to Microsoft.
This is a major about face by Microsoft and a sign of the company's diminishing power and possibly even arrogance. Of course it goes without saying that the move should provide a boost to both the Open Source movement and to users.
AOL speeds move to free ad portal - why?
AOL is considering offering all their services for free to anyone with a broadband Internet connection. This would complete AOL's transition from a subscriber based ISP business model to a free advertising supported Internet portal.
AOL's new leader, Bewkes, would be taking a bold move if Time Warner's board choose to implement his plan - but only bold moves such as these transform companies. The real question is transform AOL to what?
Being yet another free Internet portal competing with the almighty Yahoo, Google, MSN and MySpace may not be enough. They should embrace online video much more aggressively and potentially acquire YouTube. To become the Internet TV and movie portal - now that is a space they could own and perhaps even dominate.
They will have to move fast and ambitiously though, for Yahoo and Google are making big strides.
AOL's new leader, Bewkes, would be taking a bold move if Time Warner's board choose to implement his plan - but only bold moves such as these transform companies. The real question is transform AOL to what?
Being yet another free Internet portal competing with the almighty Yahoo, Google, MSN and MySpace may not be enough. They should embrace online video much more aggressively and potentially acquire YouTube. To become the Internet TV and movie portal - now that is a space they could own and perhaps even dominate.
They will have to move fast and ambitiously though, for Yahoo and Google are making big strides.
Intel and Motorola invest in WiMAX leader Clearwire
Intel is investing $600 million in Clearwire Corp., a company led by cellular pioneer Craig McCaw, as part of a $900 million investment that could help spur adoption of WiMAX.
Motorola will also chuck a tonne of money into the WiMAX champion and buy their hardware division.
Clearwire, based in Kirkland, Wash., sells wireless Internet access in 26 metropolitan markets in the US, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark and Mexico. The company's service is based on a precursor to WiMAX but has been expected to convert to the newer technology.
The three compnaies together plan to develop WiMAX technologies and standards together as well as speed up its adoption, which will help Intel sell more wireless chips over time and give Motorola a hedge against mobile networks.
This deal is a major bost for WiMAX - and about time, for the wireless technology holds enormous promise.
Motorola will also chuck a tonne of money into the WiMAX champion and buy their hardware division.
Clearwire, based in Kirkland, Wash., sells wireless Internet access in 26 metropolitan markets in the US, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark and Mexico. The company's service is based on a precursor to WiMAX but has been expected to convert to the newer technology.
The three compnaies together plan to develop WiMAX technologies and standards together as well as speed up its adoption, which will help Intel sell more wireless chips over time and give Motorola a hedge against mobile networks.
This deal is a major bost for WiMAX - and about time, for the wireless technology holds enormous promise.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Google Checkout has already attracted over 100 stores and some big brands!
Last week, Google introduced Google Checkout, an online checkout system that lets people make purchases from participating merchants using a single sign-in system. It competes with Microsoft Passport, the less than successful attempt at a universal Web passport and payment system.
And like all payment systems the proof initially is in the amount of merchants that adopt the system. If you get enough of the right merchants - you should get the users.
After a little research it looks as though Google is on a good track. They have already attracted over 100 merchants including Levi's, Timberland, Buy.com and Starbucks Store.
Now lets see if the users follow. TechBoard will keep you posted.
And like all payment systems the proof initially is in the amount of merchants that adopt the system. If you get enough of the right merchants - you should get the users.
After a little research it looks as though Google is on a good track. They have already attracted over 100 merchants including Levi's, Timberland, Buy.com and Starbucks Store.
Now lets see if the users follow. TechBoard will keep you posted.
Gawker Media struggling or growing up?
The worlds highest profile Blogging Network, Gawker Media, has just been attacked by the New York Times for laying off some folk and closing a couple of their underperforming sites.
Mind you, when you look at the numbers it seems to me that what Gawker founder, Nick Denton, is doing is tightening the ship up and realigning his portfolio of 15 sites to deliver better results and make more money.
The 2 sites on the block, Sploid and Screenhead, have not performed well, whereas the others now have a staggering 4+ million monthly unique visitors.
So my guess is Gawker Media, having been operating for quite a while, is now focused on profits first, so shaking the rotten apples from the tree has to happen at one point. It is also a sober reminder that blogging is becoming so competitive that any blogger need remind themselves that launching a new blog is an extremely expensive, time consuming and risky exercise.
Bloggers should beware - for like traditional magazines, it can take years and a chunk of change to establish a new title - and even then it may never be profitable. Examine regularly what your real objectives are for your blogsite.
Mind you, when you look at the numbers it seems to me that what Gawker founder, Nick Denton, is doing is tightening the ship up and realigning his portfolio of 15 sites to deliver better results and make more money.
The 2 sites on the block, Sploid and Screenhead, have not performed well, whereas the others now have a staggering 4+ million monthly unique visitors.
So my guess is Gawker Media, having been operating for quite a while, is now focused on profits first, so shaking the rotten apples from the tree has to happen at one point. It is also a sober reminder that blogging is becoming so competitive that any blogger need remind themselves that launching a new blog is an extremely expensive, time consuming and risky exercise.
Bloggers should beware - for like traditional magazines, it can take years and a chunk of change to establish a new title - and even then it may never be profitable. Examine regularly what your real objectives are for your blogsite.
Amazon launches toy and baby store to compete with Toys "R" Us
Amazon has launched a toy and baby store to replace its once exclusive relationship with Toys "R" Us. Toys "R" Us in the mean time has launched their own independent site.
The company's decision to start its own toy and baby stores follows a long court battle with Toys "R" Us. A New Jersey judge ruled in March that Amazon violated its agreement to give Toys "R" Us the exclusive right to sell toys and baby products on Amazon's Web site.
I wonder which out of the two will end up being the real winner? At least consumers will see greater competition in the increasingly competitive world of kids gear and wear!
The company's decision to start its own toy and baby stores follows a long court battle with Toys "R" Us. A New Jersey judge ruled in March that Amazon violated its agreement to give Toys "R" Us the exclusive right to sell toys and baby products on Amazon's Web site.
I wonder which out of the two will end up being the real winner? At least consumers will see greater competition in the increasingly competitive world of kids gear and wear!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
China Mobile still on the hunt for international mobile assets
Cash-rich China Mobile will continue its search for overseas assets in spite of its eleventh-hour decision to abort a $5.3bn bid for Millicom International. So those of you sad to see that China Mobile didn't pull off a major international deal need not fear.
How about buying Vodafone - they're looking pretty cheap right now!
How about buying Vodafone - they're looking pretty cheap right now!
New video sharing site will pay video creators share of ad revenues
A new video-sharing site, eefoof.com, (boy could they do with some branding advice) is offering videographers a share of the advertising dollars that their movies generate, at a time when most video-sharing sites are just trying to eke out a profit.
This will drive two trends - one healthy, where we will increasingly see video sites such as YouTube and Yahoo Movies share revenues with content creators (der yeah) and the other painful cos we're gonna have even more garbage home movies clog up our broadband airwaves - giving the telco's yet more ammunition to fight net neutrality!
This will drive two trends - one healthy, where we will increasingly see video sites such as YouTube and Yahoo Movies share revenues with content creators (der yeah) and the other painful cos we're gonna have even more garbage home movies clog up our broadband airwaves - giving the telco's yet more ammunition to fight net neutrality!
Hedge Fund babe says Warner Music should take over EMI and not other way round!
In the confounding/never ending battle between Warner Music and EMI over which one should take over the other (??) it looks like Edgar Bronfman has got a little ego desperate by hooking in a reasonably irrelevant yet unabashedly outspoken Hedge Fund Babe to bat for him.
Eclectica Asset Management, which claims a 2% stake in EMI and a smaller investment in Warner Music, reiterates its argument that Warner should buy EMI, rather than the other way round, in a letter to the Financial Times. So that Bronfman can run the combined outfit.
Proving that Hedge Funders have larger gobs than ownership stakes!
Monday, July 03, 2006
New Chinese mobile phone giant fails to get out of the blocks
Millicom, the Luxembourg based mobile phone company with ventures throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America, ended talks with China Mobile Communications of Beijing just hours before Millicom executives were due to fly to the Chinese capital to announce a $5.3 billion acquisition of their company.
The planned acquisition by China Mobile, had it been completed, would have been the largest foreign purchase by any Chinese firm.
Apparently the Chinese decided that their intial offer was a little generous once they looked under the bonnet (technical term for 'due dilligence'). Plus, it seems that China's bureacracy proved about as helpful in getting a deal done as a blindman behind the wheels of a Formula 1 Ferrari.
Lastly the Chinese decided that the sprawling collection of international mobile assets owned by Millicom might prove a bit of a headache to manage - which does not say a great deal about their confidence in Millicom management who were doe to stay on!
So, a new giant and international Chinese tech company to rival Lenovo looks set not to be unleashed - or at least not for now.
Is the hot selling MacBook also too hot to handle!
My last post announced that Apple's MacBook sales are red hot. Well, according to CNET that's not the only thing that's extraordinary about the MacBook.
It seems as though about 70 plus customers of the cheaper white version of the MacBook are discovering potentially faulty plastic for the white casing which means that after a few weeks use they get indellible stains!!
So, no more tinkering with your bright white MacBook after you've been fiddling with your matching all white Jeep (engine)!
It seems as though about 70 plus customers of the cheaper white version of the MacBook are discovering potentially faulty plastic for the white casing which means that after a few weeks use they get indellible stains!!
So, no more tinkering with your bright white MacBook after you've been fiddling with your matching all white Jeep (engine)!
MacBook sales rock Apple
2 months into the launch of Apple's star laptop - the MacBook - it looks like sales are roaring. And review after review makes the MacBook look like a winner product with a sensible price tag as well.
According to Mac Daily News Apple's MacBook sales have bounced up in June (the 2nd month they went on sale) and Apple are due to sell over 2M MacBooks and iBooks in 2006, plus 1M MacBook Pro's, which would represent a 39% increase in Apple laptop sales over 2005.
It may be that the MacBook proves to be Apple's arrowhead when it comes to fighting the market share war against Windows only PC's. The fact that their new Intel computers run both Apple's OS/X and Windows may finally get Apple into decent market share territory for the first time in a long, long time!
According to Mac Daily News Apple's MacBook sales have bounced up in June (the 2nd month they went on sale) and Apple are due to sell over 2M MacBooks and iBooks in 2006, plus 1M MacBook Pro's, which would represent a 39% increase in Apple laptop sales over 2005.
It may be that the MacBook proves to be Apple's arrowhead when it comes to fighting the market share war against Windows only PC's. The fact that their new Intel computers run both Apple's OS/X and Windows may finally get Apple into decent market share territory for the first time in a long, long time!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
