Netflix rumoured to be buying Roku

Source: Roku

Netflix might be changing its mind about adding a device to its stable. The company is reportedly in talks with Roku to acquire its business. Citing sources familiar with the company, Roku employees have allegedly had their trading window shut for selling Roku stock. This typically happens when information could be released that would affect its stock. It's meant to prevent insider trading. Roku's stock has dropped nearly 80% since July 2021 due to weak demand for its streaming hardware.

The streaming service's potential acquisition is reportedly a "focus of internal chatter" at the company. This report comes after it was a target of an acquisition last year. Neither company has yet to confirm the rumours. But Netflix itself is facing stock falls due to fierce competition from the likes of Disney, HBO Max, and more. Netflix has recently confirmed plans to adopt a cheaper ad-supported plan, so bringing in Roku, which has experience in the market, can possibly help them out. 

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Pinterest rumoured to acquire VSCO

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Are we about to get a Pinterest x VSCO mashup? A new report by the New York Times claims that Pinterest might be thinking of acquiring the photo and video editing and sharing app. Neither side has confirmed the negotiations.

But it might definitely work in Pinterest's favour to purchase the "once-buzzy start-up" that became known for "VSCO girls" by Generation Z users back in 2019. On top of that, it will bring its expertise in photo- and video-editing to Pinterest's platform, which can only improve its core offering. We're going to keep our eye out for any updates.

Microsoft reportedly wants to acquire TikTok's global business

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If recent reports are accurate, Microsoft doesn't just want part of TikTok's business. The tech giant supposedly set its sights on a total buyout of TikTok's global business from China-based company ByteDance. The deal, however, wouldn't include ByteDance's sister Chinese app Douyin.

The report surfaces in the same week Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talked to US President Donald Trump about exploring the idea of acquiring TikTok's US, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand businesses. Microsoft and ByteDance refused to comment about the rumours, and some reports refute the rumours. For now, we're keeping our eyes peeled for any updates on the popular app's future. 

Source: CNET

Apple reportedly buys Montreal-based Mobeewave for US$100m

Apple's rumoured recent acquisition is Montreal-based startup Mobeewave, specializing in developing tech that can turn mobile phones into mobile payment terminals. Mobeewave's technology can let shoppers tap their credit card or smartphone on another phone to process payments. It doesn't require any hardware beyond a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip and the accompanying app. iPhones have had NFC chips since 2014. A demonstration on Mobeewave's site shows a user typing in a transaction amount, and then the customer taps their credit card on the phone to process the payment.

Apple is known to acquire startups to integrate its technology into its devices. We're hoping to see iPhones of the future that can become mobile payment terminals, which can be particularly useful in the COVID-19 age where going digital or cashless is the preferred or safer payment method. Apple supposedly paid around US$100 million for Mobeewave, which has a dozen employees that the tech giant will retain. The Mobeewave team will reportedly continue to work out of Montreal.

Source: Bloomberg