Twitter's a pretty lucky company. Few get two bytes at the hype apple in rapid succession, but this social media platform has found a way to make up for its disappointing announcement about its advertising model. According to VentureBeat, Twitter might unveil its long-awaited, heavily-hyped and possibly investor-satisfying corporate accounts. Next month, at its inaugural Chirp developer conference, we could finally see what might just be the foundation of Twitter's business model.
Twitter May Chirp Its Commercial Accounts Next Month
Continue reading Twitter May Chirp Its Commercial Accounts Next Month
Microsoft Customers Go to Opera
Readers of this space may recall that about two weeks ago I wrote about an intriguing turn of events for Microsoft Corp. (MSFT). Pursuant to an agreement with the European Commission, Microsoft has made available to it's new European customers a web page which provides those customers download utilities for a choice of twelve different web browser applications. As I suggested then, It appears that the reign of Windows Internet Explorer may come to a screeching halt.
According to a report from BBC News, a web browsing application known as Opera is knocking Internet Explorer back on it's heels in Europe. Opera Software of Norway states that downloads of it's web browsing software have doubled in some countries since the Microsoft provided selection page came on line. Anywhere from 60% to 75% of the new download requests for Opera have come via the new Microsoft provided service.
VirnetX Wins a $105.8 Million Patent Suit Against Microsoft
VirnetX (VHC) focuses on commercializing its patent portfolio for real-time communications over the Net. The company is fairly small, with a mere $20,672 in revenues in the latest quarter. There are only 12 employees.Continue reading VirnetX Wins a $105.8 Million Patent Suit Against Microsoft
If Google Closes Shop in China, Microsoft Should Pounce on Baidu
Google's (GOOG) problems in China have been well-publicized in recent years. The world's most populous country and its own Baidu.com search engine have managed to stave off Google to a minority market share. At the same time, the Chinese government has been no friend of the world's leading search engine, requesting censored results in comparison to Google's "all information is free" stance. So, Google stands prepared to leave China for good.
Continue reading If Google Closes Shop in China, Microsoft Should Pounce on Baidu
Twitter Getting Six Figures a Month for Data
Nobody's naming names right now, but Social Times reports from SXSW that "a number" of companies are paying Twitter hefty fees for unrestricted access to the "firehose." While some Twitter data is accessible free through the company's developer program, the full data set is only available to those willing to write a check – and, it turns out, a substantial one.Back in October, Twitter inked high-profile data-licensing deals with Google (GOOG) and Microsoft (MSFT), which brought in $25 million and put the social media service on the revenue map. Since then, it has brought more clients into the fold through its data-licensing program, including Kosmix and Scoopler, by opening up what it calls the "firehose"; i.e., unfettered access to the Twitter data stream.
Continue reading Twitter Getting Six Figures a Month for Data
Stocks on My Watch List: ATVI, LGF, NTDOY, WWE
We all have our watch lists. I'm no different. Here are four companies that I monitor almost every single day, and a brief opinion on each of them.
Activision Blizzard (ATVI): I sold this one back in January. Some believe I was wrong to do so. I definitely comprehend the sentiment, because really, this is the best publisher in the sector. Compared to Electronic Arts (ERTS) and Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), Activision Blizzard has an enviable pipeline. Unfortunately, the video-game industry isn't firing on all cylinders; check out the most recent monthly-sales report, and you'll see what I mean. In addition, the company's Guitar Hero franchise isn't the fad it once was. I do want to get in on the stock again, though; lately, the price seems to be perking up. I'm not ready to send in the buy order just yet. I'm waiting for further strength to materialize in the shares.
Continue reading Stocks on My Watch List: ATVI, LGF, NTDOY, WWE
Yahoo!: A Buy After Upgrade?
Yahoo! (YHOO) received an analyst upgrade from JMP Securities Monday. The thesis is that online advertising is improving, so now may be the time to get in on the possible capital appreciation of the business. The stock closed yesterday at $16.52 per share -- a gain of 2.8%. Volume was active.
The upgrade also comes with a price target of $21. Yahoo!, like many stocks, has bounced off its 52-week low quite strongly. Over the 12-month period, the company has risen by better than 20%. From one angle, I like the idea of this trade. Technically, the shares might be ready to move.
Microsoft and the Browser Wars
Instigated by an agreement negotiated between the European Commission (EC) and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), a new browser selection utility has just become available. Although the browser choice software is intended mainly to be distributed through the Windows update system familiar to Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) users, it is also available online for anyone to access.
It is reported that Microsoft IE currently holds approximately 62% of browser market share. That is a powerful position for the company to be in when considering that web browsers are absolutely essential pieces of software. That is, in part, why the EC put pressure on Microsoft to open up the playing field to lesser known browser utilities. With their demands, European regulators essentially cut Microsoft's exclusive IE umbilical cord in July of 2009.
Zuckerberg in 'No Rush' for Facebook IPO
It's not just Digital Sky Technologies that is in "no rush" for Facebook to go public -- Facebook's founder says he's happy to take his time, too. CEO Mark Zuckerberg, according to the Wall Street Journal is putting his head together with those of Paul Otellini, CEO of Intel (INTC) and Charles Phillips, president of Oracle (ORCL) to gain insights on running his company, over which he'll have more control as a result of Facebook's dual-class share structure. If Zuckerberg gets his way, he'll run Facebook for a while before taking the dive into public capital markets.Zuckerberg tells the Wall Street Journal(subscription required), "We're going to go public eventually, because that's the contract that we have with or investors and our employees." Doubtless, these two parties are eager to experience a liquidity event, particularly those from the company's earliest days and preliminary financing rounds.
New Revenue Cycle to Boost Microsoft (MSFT)
"Microsoft (MSFT) handled the recent recession quite well, one of the most serious recessions since the 1930s, in which there were substantial declines in both consumer and business spending," says Sy Harding. The editor of The Long and Short Stock Advisory explains, "And this was in spite of the cool reception of its Vista operating system, which was intended to replace Windows XP. Overall, we consider the stock to be a potential 'over-performer.'
Continue reading New Revenue Cycle to Boost Microsoft (MSFT)
Facebook Revenue to Top $1 Billion in 2010
Initial estimates of a $550 million year for Facebook in 2009 may be lower than expected. In fact, the company may have brought in as much as $700 million, though it is notoriously tight-lipped about the size of its coffers. In what was clearly a banner year for the social media site, it also moved into positive free cash flow territory – and the number of users continues to rise across the board. Facebook's revenue trajectory – at least to the extent that it can be gauged – has been impressive. From $150 million in 2007, it grew to an estimated $280 million to $300 million in 2008 and a 2009 result that could range from $600 million to $700 million. Revenue has at least doubled every year, a trend that Inside Facebook expects to continue. Of course, these are all third-party estimates, and Facebook isn't saying a thing.
Twitter Finds More Real-Time Search Clients
Last year, Twitter got a taste of significant revenue when it inked data-licensing deals with Microsoft (MSFT) and Google (GOOG). The multi-year deals were worth a total of $25 million, but Yahoo! (YHOO) found an alternative way to access the social media site's data – free – which made it seem like the licensed data business model was on the brink of a short life. Well, it looks like some new deals have breathed a bit more life into this approach, though the details remain unclear.In a blog post Monday, Twitter announced that it was opening its data "Firehose" to a number of companies: Ellerdale, Collecta, Kosmix, Scoopler, twazzup, Crowdeye and Chainn. According to the post, this step makes it "possible to move far beyond the Twitter experiences we know today."
Continue reading Twitter Finds More Real-Time Search Clients
Newspapers Claim to be Classified Leaders
Newspaper websites seem to be the preferred source of local news for consumers, according to the Newspaper Association of America and comScore (SCOR). Fifty-seven percent of respondents are drawn to local newspaper websites. But take this with a grain of salt: 54% chose online portals and 53% selected local television websites. In terms of what consumers consider the most trusted local news source to be, newspapers have the lead, but the gap is narrowing. Now, only 33% choose the newspaper for this reason, with local television sites pulling in 32%."While newspaper Web sites often face dozens of competitors touting their own local offerings in any given market, they have been able to thrive by leveraging trusted brands and strong local content to appeal to consumers and advertisers alike," John Sturm, president and CEO of the NAA, said in a statement.
Twitter Gaining Ground on Facebook for Status Update Field
Every day now brings with it 50 million tweets, according to Twitter's blog. And that number specifically excludes tweets from spammers. In 2007, daily volume was a mere 5,000. Every second, 600 tweets are unleased.
There is no shortage of 140-character outbursts, putting the microblogging site in direct competition with social media behemoth Facebook for ownership of the social media user's most current thoughts. Facebook boasts more than 60 million daily status updates, despite having a 400 million-strong user base that dwarfs Twitter's nearly 60 million. The fact that Twitter is so much smaller than Facebook only makes its ownership of the status update more compelling.
Continue reading Twitter Gaining Ground on Facebook for Status Update Field
Zynga Valuation Said to Top $3 Billion
Are you still suspicious of the $6.5 billion Facebook valuation that resulted from Digital Sky's $100 million investment last July? And doubtless, the $15 billion valuation implied by Microsoft's (MSFT) 2007 investment in the company was, to say the least, aspirational. Well, the insanity is continuing to mount – throughout the Facebook ecosystem. A recent report by Global Silicon Valley Partner's NeXt Up Research organization puts the price tag of Zinga, the Facebook application developer, at a whopping $3.3 billion ... half of Facebook's!Granted, Zynga has done a few things to wow social media market-wachers and investors. NeXt Up Research forecasts 35% growth for this company over the next four years and just upped its 2014 revenue projection to $1.1 billion. The previous estimate was only $460 million. What could possibly justify these numbers? Well, Zynga has grown from 30 million users to 230 million in only 10 months, largely as a result of the strength shown by Facebook over this period. Farmville has been the company's engine, with close to 80 million monthly active users.
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