Lyft is preparing for robotaxis, not car rentals. Lyft is launching a car rental service that I think has nothing to do with renting cars and everything to do with working out to successfully run a fleet of robotaxis. Lyft has launched a car rental service from within its app which has sent Hertz and Avis shares into a tail-spin,...
Reality hits the dream seller. As I expected, it turns out that augmented reality (AR) for the consumer is light years away from where it needs to be meaning that the only real market, for now, is still the enterprise. Magic Leap has finally accepted this reality but seeing as others pivoted to the enterprise 2 to 3 years ago,...
No more chasing Alibaba Wag Labs Inc. is another write-down in waiting for Softbank which combined with the WeWork meltdown will see it normalise its investment process and stop spraying money around in order to find the next Alibaba. Softbank has sold its stake in Wag Inc. back to the company which is likely to mean another write down that...
Tesla does not need to acquire users. While Tesla might just get away with charging for data and services, I think that the rest of the industry will have to tread very carefully when going down this route as I think the example of BMW shows (see here). Tesla’s deadline for charging users for data and services came and went...
Apple decides the roll-out time table. While Qualcomm is busy setting the scene for 5G with its latest silicon releases, it is Apple (and to some degree Samsung) that is going to determine the real time-table for 5G getting into the hands of users. This is because Apple will sell millions of the next generation of iPhone meaning that if...
Dare I hope that BMW is beginning to see the light? BMW’s move to make access to CarPlay free in its vehicles gives me a little confidence that BMW is beginning to realise that its digital future depends on user engagement with the infotainment unit. Following the launch of CarPlay BMW reluctantly made it available in its vehicles but then...
Netflix faces increasing risk for a more uncertain return. The collapse of Netflix’s movie library is continuing apace meaning that more than ever Netflix will have to depend on the hit and miss content creation business for its future growth. This basically changes Netflix from being a distributor of content into a creator of content and it is on that...
Uncertainty is still the name of the game. Faraday Future has managed to recreate a veneer of credibility, but its plans look as unbelievable as ever making wonder whether this recovery is just skin deep. For such a young company, Faraday Future (founded in 2014) already has a long and chequered history meaning that anything it does from here will...
Xiaomi finds a bottom. Xiaomi has weathered Huawei’s market share gains in its home market extremely well which combined with growth in its ecosystem leads me to think that the shares have pretty much found the bottom. Q3 19 results were encouraging with weakness in smartphones being offset by strength in its other consumer electronics products. Smartphone shipments fell by...
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.
Digital Automotive – Baby steps.
BMW takes another baby step. Not only is Car Play now free but BMW will now also add Android Auto to its vehicles from 2020 in a move that clearly shows that digital is becoming an important part of the purchase decision. Vehicles are predominantly purchased on their looks, performance, safety and economy but increasingly, offering access to the user’s...