Almost a exactly a year ago I wrote this[1] - I've added contemporary notes in italics:
Apple should (and I think will) buy Twitter.
Here’s why:
Apple needs a social layer. Facebook could provide it but Apple hate them. Apple could roll out a new version of iTunes in a couple of days, replacing the Ping sidebar with Twitter. Deeper integration into iTunes would follow. More than a couple of days needed, but still holds true
Various free messaging apps are doing quite well on the iPhone. Bringing Twitter in as a native app on iOS devices would both expand Twitter, and provide another differentiator for Apple products. Other platforms would continue to be supported, but Twitter could be plumbed into iOS at the OS level. Networks would bitch about their SMS revenue dropping, but Apple doesn’t give a shit about that. Apple launched iMessage and wiped out the network operators SMS revenue
Twitter and Apple share a love of simplicity, both of concept and of design. Their users are from similar demographics. Twitter is heavily used by celebrities and musicians, their feeds could be linked in to their products on iTunes. Buying an album could offer you the chance to follow the artist on Twitter. If Jony Ive was designing a social network, it would look like Twitter. This is definitely true and remains so. The only thing that Apple wouldn't like is ugly usernames like Sasha85_x
Simple really. Apple could provide the missing revenue that Twitter needs. It might not make Twitter profitable, but it could bring it up to a level of lossmaking that was justifiable for the top-tier messaging service among handset manufacturers.
Twitter’s most recent valuation was reportedly $8billion. Apple could probably buy them for $12billion (a $4bn profit over a matter of months). That’s not much out of Apple’s $76billion stockpile. That stockpile is now $110bn
6. Twitter people would be happy to go to Apple. They’re cool, Apple is cool – it works. They think* they're cool*
7. I can actually visualize Steve Jobs walking onto stage and announcing it. Talk of changing the world etc. etc. etc. Sad.
You shouldn’t follow me on Twitter because I don’t use it. In fact it really pisses me off, but I can see that it works for millions of people. I use it a bit more now, but it still riles me up.
Apple should (and I think will) buy Twitter.
Here’s why:
Apple needs a social layer. Facebook could provide it but Apple hate them. Apple could roll out a new version of iTunes in a couple of days, replacing the Ping sidebar with Twitter. Deeper integration into iTunes would follow. More than a couple of days needed, but still holds true
Various free messaging apps are doing quite well on the iPhone. Bringing Twitter in as a native app on iOS devices would both expand Twitter, and provide another differentiator for Apple products. Other platforms would continue to be supported, but Twitter could be plumbed into iOS at the OS level. Networks would bitch about their SMS revenue dropping, but Apple doesn’t give a shit about that. Apple launched iMessage and wiped out the network operators SMS revenue
Twitter and Apple share a love of simplicity, both of concept and of design. Their users are from similar demographics. Twitter is heavily used by celebrities and musicians, their feeds could be linked in to their products on iTunes. Buying an album could offer you the chance to follow the artist on Twitter. If Jony Ive was designing a social network, it would look like Twitter. This is definitely true and remains so. The only thing that Apple wouldn't like is ugly usernames like Sasha85_x
Simple really. Apple could provide the missing revenue that Twitter needs. It might not make Twitter profitable, but it could bring it up to a level of lossmaking that was justifiable for the top-tier messaging service among handset manufacturers.
Twitter’s most recent valuation was reportedly $8billion. Apple could probably buy them for $12billion (a $4bn profit over a matter of months). That’s not much out of Apple’s $76billion stockpile. That stockpile is now $110bn
6. Twitter people would be happy to go to Apple. They’re cool, Apple is cool – it works. They think* they're cool*
7. I can actually visualize Steve Jobs walking onto stage and announcing it. Talk of changing the world etc. etc. etc. Sad.
You shouldn’t follow me on Twitter because I don’t use it. In fact it really pisses me off, but I can see that it works for millions of people. I use it a bit more now, but it still riles me up.
[1] http://www.alexmuir.com/2011/08/why-apple-will-buy-twitter/