“But way more interesting is this – Last year, around the time that Apple acquired music service Lala, Google and Spotify were deep in acquisition discussions, says a source with knowledge of the negotiations,” Arrington reports. “Ultimately no deal happened, and the two companies tried to negotiate a deal to have Spotify pre-installed on all Android phones instead.”
Arrington reports, “But the deal almost happened, says our source, and Google was going to pay nearly $1 billion for the service. Ultimately the deal went sideways because Google was demanding that all label deals be grandfathered in. And Spotify wanted a $800 million+ walk away fee if the deal faltered.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “iWill” for the heads up.]
I have a hunch about the stupid rumors swirling around Apple. I would not be surprised if Apple has no plans for any acquisition, and if they do, the historical pattern of Apple is to make a small acquisition of a privately held company for its technology or people, specific things that Apple does not have. The company has been extremely successful and selective in doing so.
As for a big acquisition, I call BS. What we are seeing is either the deluded fantasy of some third rate Wall $treet analyst (for example, the often quoted Shaw Wu has a TERRIBLE track record), or shameless proffering of a big Wall $treet firm trying to force a bad marriage – in those train wreck mergers like AOL Time Warner, the only winner were the big Wall $treet firms that got fat on hefty underwriting fees. I’m sure they yearn for it again.
Then too, there are the stock manipulators. By merely planting a rumor and getting it on CNBC, these scum can quickly pump the price of stock of a company like Sony, shares of which they purchased a day or so before. Before the day is out, the hedge fund kiddies have bailed out of the stock, leaving the little guy to hold the bag, taken their illegally gained profits and moved on.
Stir and repeat.
The financial newspapers, TV networks and websites are only too happy to oblige in this BS. “Synergies! Can you feel the vibe?” If I hear or read the word “synergies” one more time, I’ll puke.
The truth is that any acquisition is fraught with risk. Imagine taking and American company like Apple and attempting to merge it with a Japanese company like Sony. Two different cultures and mindsets. The same would be true of Adobe. Ask yourself: would you want the ex-Microsoft MBAs who destroyed Adobe to pollute Apple? Often, it takes years to undo the damage caused by shitty managers and people who won’t adopt to Apple’s way of doing things.
Wall $treet, of course would be fine with that. They just want to snort more profits and fees.
My advice: tune this crap out, just like I do all political ads. You won’t find a shred of truth.
One last thing: @Fredo, consider that your beloved LaLa might not be dead. Did it ever occur to you that the data centers that Apple is building could be for that very purpose?
Think, people. Think.
@ChrissyOne, Since I have overdosed on non-existent acquisitions today, I might as well go the whole hog and consume a hogsized “mother of all illusionary” breakfast time’s.
@ChrissyOne, Since I have overdosed on non-existent acquisitions today, I might as well go the whole hog and consume a hogsized “mother of all illusionary” breakfast time’s.
I love Spotify but I can’t understand why Apple would want to buy them. All it has to do is sign the same streaming deals that many other companies have done and then change the 30 second preview for the full track? They have lala IP aswell.
I love Spotify but I can’t understand why Apple would want to buy them. All it has to do is sign the same streaming deals that many other companies have done and then change the 30 second preview for the full track? They have lala IP aswell.
Apple should buy Sony, then we can look forward to the Sony Ericsson Apple iPhone 5, the Sony Apple Alpha DSLRs and Cybershots, Sony Apple TV, Sony Apple Record Label and Sony Apple Films.
Actually Sony could be a good one for Apple – All those films studios / record labels under Sony’s control would be a beneficial card in Apple’s deck for streaming content from their humungous server farm.
Apple should buy Sony, then we can look forward to the Sony Ericsson Apple iPhone 5, the Sony Apple Alpha DSLRs and Cybershots, Sony Apple TV, Sony Apple Record Label and Sony Apple Films.
Actually Sony could be a good one for Apple – All those films studios / record labels under Sony’s control would be a beneficial card in Apple’s deck for streaming content from their humungous server farm.
individual cell phone plans you can get with i-phone here.
individual cell phone plans you can get with i-phone here.
@auramac that is the worst analogy ever. Yes I pay for food but it leaves a day or so later…
@auramac that is the worst analogy ever. Yes I pay for food but it leaves a day or so later…
So I rent food.
So I rent food.