Facebook needs one chat system that is a part of the whole. Facebook’s strategy around chat looks like a hodgepodge of different offerings that is likely to leave users non-plussed. Facebook has announced that it will discontinue instant messaging inside its own application but what it will be replaced with is not clear. Facebook owns...
Microsoft is on the back foot going into E3 2014. So far in the competition to be the leading next generation console, Sony has won every round against Microsoft and both have utterly destroyed Nintendo. Consequently going into E3 which kicks off in Los Angeles on Tuesday 10th June, Microsoft has everything to prove and...
Ericsson represents very little threat to Qualcomm or MediaTek. Ericsson’s handset radio chipset business is emerging from the ashes of two failed joint ventures to challenge Qualcomm and MediaTek yet again. The joint venture ST Ericsson has now been dismantled and integrated into Ericsson with Robert Puskaric re-appointed to run the business. Puskaric ran Ericsson...
Amazon is attacking the wrong end of the value chain. Amazon will hold an event in Seattle on 19th June to launch what is very likely to be a smartphone based on its own proprietary version of Android. Amazon is absolutely on the money when it comes to needing to differentiate its device from the...
The PC market is far from dead. It is just changing. Computex has kicked off in Taiwan and this year, more than ever, it is clear that the PC market is undergoing its biggest change in 20 years. This has confused many commentators who continue to count the PC market as just desktops and...
Digital Life services are what Apple needs to secure its future. Next week sees Apple host its overhyped WWDC developer’s conference in Silicon Valley. It is at this conference that Apple typically launches its software innovations leaving devices for other events. Hype has focused around wearables, health and smart home but none of these...
The realisation of this dream is years away. Samsung held an event in San Francisco where it elaborated on its ambitions for mobile health. The timing of this event is very convenient with Apple’s developer conference due to kick off next week were a foray into mobile health is expected to be launched. Two...
The G3 will enrich Google, no one else. LG has released another update to its flagship that will ensure that competition in Android will be faster, harder and more painful. The G3 has a 2.5Ghz Snapdragon 801, a 5.5” quad-HD display with 538ppi, 13mp camera, Image stabiliser, dual flash and so on and so on....
MAY 27th 2014: Radio Free Mobile deepens its flagship research product with the publication of: Samsung & Google – Gorilla War – An in depth analysis of the Google/Android ecosystem. There is no money in Android. The value is in the ecosystems that sit on top of it. Samsung has mistakenly assumed that it can maintain its 18% handset margins by focusing on...
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.
Google – Real pie in the sky
Skybox has great strategic value for Google. Google wastes vast amounts of money on frivolous expenses but the acquisition Skybox is one that actually makes sense. Google will pay $500m in cash to acquire Skybox which is an end to end provider of satellite imagery and analysis. Skybox makes and operates a network of satellites...