Archive for the 'acquisitions' Category

Sun acquires MySQL AB

Published on January 16, 2008 in acquisitions, Apache, business venture, Linux, mergers, MySQL, news, Open Source, Operating system, PHP, Strategy, Sun Microsystems, tech blog, technology, Web 2.0 and Web technology. 0 Comments

mysql logosun microsystem logoThe billion dollar acquisition makes it the largest open source software deal ever and makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL Perl/Python/PHP) open source software stack!

This announcement reaffirms Sun’s position as the leading provider of platforms for the Web economy and its role as the largest commercial open source contributor (even Solaris OS is available free and open source). This opens up MySQL to a whole new and exciting arena and is expected to gain new distribution through Sun’s channels including its OEM relationships with Intel, IBM and Dell.

Google’s Android the next big thing for Mobile Technology?

Published on November 8, 2007 in acquisitions, Android, browser, business, Google, iPhone, Linux, Mobile, news, Om Malik, tech blog and Web 2.0. 2 Comments

The simple answer is no, however, Linux the open-source OS might get a huge push and even end up becoming the platform of choice rooting out competition like Windows and Palm. Although handset manufactures like LG, HTC, Motorola and Samsung, chip firms such as Qualcomm and mobile networks like T-Mobile and China Mobile have all showed interest in partnering with Google, none have made any specific commitment towards moving in that direction yet.

google android

Google believes that Android powered phones will make the internet experience on a mobile “better than on a PC”, it acquired Android in 2005 specifically to tap the youth appeal for all things “wireless”, but one expert thinks the hype is just that, a poor PR move and nothing more. Don’t expect a phone powered by Android until mid-2008, so only time and patience can tell if it will take off, in the mean time, enjoy your iPhone.

The Simpsons on MySpace or The Simpsons on YouTube

Published on March 8, 2007 in 24, acquisitions, American Idol, Blogosphere, business planning, copyrights, digital media, Fox TV, media, Microsoft, MySpace, news, Prison Break, technology, The Simpsons, viral video, Web 2.0, Web technology, web traffic and YouTube. 1 Comment

simpsonsCurrently, News Corp. owned Fox shows, such as 24 and Prison Break, are available on the News Corp. owned social networking portal, MySpace. There is speculation that the media giant is planning collaboration with multiple media companies to establish an online video platform to compete with YouTube.

MySpace is the no.1 social networking site in the U.K. and Australia and successfully tapped many other international markets. News Corp. may soon allow members to embed Fox TV shows and Fox videos, on their home pages in order to monetize by rapid increase in online video distribution.

New’s Corp has a wider range and richer content as compared to other large traffic internet sites like Google and Yahoo. MySpace is growing faster than comparable sites like Google, YouTube, Yahoo, Time Warner, Microsoft and Ebay. Its unique monthly audience of 61.5 million was up 73% from January, 2006, according to comScore.

Although Fox TV served YouTube with a subpoena earlier in January demanding the Google-owned viral video site disclose the identity of a user who uploaded copies of entire recent episodes of primetime series 24 and The Simpsons, I doubt if much will change because a huge chunk of YouTube’s popularity is based on copyrighted videos viewers get to watch for free.

The choice is yours for now, would you watch News Corp. owned Fox TV shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Idol, etc. on News Corp. owned MySpace, or would you watch the same on YouTube?

Google Doesn’t Know How To Spend All Its Cash?

Published on March 6, 2007 in acquisitions, Blogosphere, business, business planning, cashflow, digital media, Entrepreneurs, eric schmidt, Google, Google Inc., media, mergers, Money, morgan stanley, news, technology, Venture Capital, Web 2.0, web sites, Web technology and YouTube. 1 Comment

google Google Inc. is accumulating mounds of cash from operations, so how is it going to manage cashflows now?

At the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference, Eric Schmidt ruled out big mergers and acquisitions. Currently Google invests heavily in huge data centers and networks to expand the range and depth of its Web services. In 2006, Google purchased the most popular Video Sharing site YouTube for a whopping $1.65 billion. What’s left to invest in? If other big companies are going to Google, should Google bother to go to other companies? If yes, where?

Initially risks were taken and they paid off, now its time to retain the numbers that investors are clinging on to.