$25 per unit will shatter what little profitability there is. Google is set to change its licensing practices in Europe such that Google apps will be unbundled from both Google Play and Chrome but I suspect that the economic consequences of these options for handset makers are untenable. Google is making three changes for devices that are destined to be...
75% of almost zero is still almost zero. Google is making some noise about how quickly Pixel users are upgrading to Android Pie (version 9), but their numbers are so tiny that they don’t even warrant a mention on Android’s own developer website. Furthermore, when one looks at Oreo (Android 8), it becomes clear that devices are being upgraded more...
Mobile gaming is much trickier than it would appear. Zynga appears to be attracting interest for acquisition (see here), but I think that the notion that buying Zynga will suddenly fix one’s weakness with regard to mobile gaming is problematic at best. Bloomberg has made the case as to why Ubisoft could benefit from owning Zynga (see here) which similar...
Verticalisation remains the way forward for now. Apple’s verticalisation continues with its semi-acquisition of Dialog Semiconductor making a lot more to unravel when the iPhone bandwagon finally grinds to a halt. Apple has struck a deal with Dialog Semiconductor where it is paying $300m to acquire certain assets (the bulk of which must be intellectual property or perpetual licences to...
G+ failure saves Google from major problem. Google is finally shutting down its attempt at competing with Facebook in Social Networking following a security lapse which, due to the inactivity on the service, has had very little impact. Google+ or G+ was Google’s fourth attempt at social networking which was launched in June 2011 and in which large amounts of...
Google seems to be going for engagement, not shipments. Google’s new features are almost all software based and the fact that many of them will be rolling out to older devices is a sure sign that Google is using hardware to drive engagement rather than make money. This means that its hardware strategy makes no sense as I have discussed...
WhatsApp interoperability is a glaring omission. Facebook has launched its first piece of hardware which aims to drive engagement with Facebook’s Messenger platform but its lack of interoperability with WhatsApp will hinder the appeal of the device. Portal from Facebook consists of two devices: Portal which looks just like the Amazon Echo Show at $199 and Portal+ with a 15.6”...
Forced sale creeps closer. Snap has sent a memo that inadvertently admits that its business model is fundamentally flawed that I think can only lead to the company being forcibly acquired. Two things stand out in the 6,000-word memo: First, UX redesign. The company admits that the redesign that led to a decline in daily active users in Q2 18...
Amazon gains a short-lived edge over Google. Amazon is enabling its skills to talk to one another in a move that will greatly enhance the functionality and appeal of Alexa over its rivals unless they immediately follow suit. I suspect that Google’s hardware PR people will now be frantically editing the keynotes and presentations set for next Tuesday (October 9th)...
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.
Essential Products – The obvious clue
Must-have, not me too needed to survive. The clue to a recovery for Essential Products Inc. is in the name but so far, none of the rapidly diminishing workforce appear to have really taken this to heart. I continue to stand by my position expressed in January 2017 (see here) which is: for Essential Products to have any chance in...