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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Photo by Bloomberg.

Facebook Dumps Secret Plan to Build Satellite

By Amir Efrati · Jun 8, 2015 7:00am PDT

Silicon Valley’s space race has ended before getting off the ground. Facebook has abandoned plans to spend as much as $1 billion to build and launch a satellite to provide Internet service on continents such as Africa, says a person with direct knowledge of the project and a person briefed about it. Facebook’s decision follows a pull-back by... Silicon Valley’s space race has ended before getting off the ground. Facebook has abandoned plans...

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Credit: Bloomberg

Amazon Has Been Trying to Join Mobile Pay Party

By Amir Efrati · Jun 2, 2015 10:01am PDT

As more technology companies offer ways for people to pay for goods in stores by waving their phone or wrist, Amazon.com is still working on its strategy. The company has tried various ideas over the past year—introducing card-swiping terminals for small physical retailers and ways for consumers to store loyalty cards on their phone. The goal:... As more technology companies offer ways for people to pay for goods in stores by waving their...

The Information Fundraising Briefing

By The Information Staff · May 28, 2015 10:05am PDT

Postmates, which primarily delivers food from restaurants like Starbucks and Chipotle, is raising more than $50 million at a roughly $400 million valuation, which has essentially doubled since the start of the year, The Information has learned. The round is being led by hedge fund Tiger Global, and many old investors are also participating.... Postmates, which primarily delivers food from restaurants like Starbucks and Chipotle, is raising...

Tony Fadell, CEO of Google's Nest Labs

Google Developing ‘Brillo’ Software for Internet of Things

By Amir Efrati and Steve Nellis · May 21, 2015 7:00am PDT · 1 comment

Tony Fadell, CEO of Google's Nest Labs

Google Developing ‘Brillo’ Software for Internet of Things

By Amir Efrati and Steve Nellis · May 21, 2015 7:00am PDT · 1 comment

Google wants its software to power any electronic device that connects to the Internet, whether or not it has a digital screen. To that end, Google is working on technology that could run on low-powered devices, possibly with as few as 64 or 32 megabytes of random-access memory, according to people who have been briefed about the project. ... Google wants its software to power any electronic device that connects to the Internet, whether...

Facebook executive Ilya Sukhar. Photo by Bloomberg

With Messenger Apps Sluggish, Facebook Eyeing Games

By Tom Dotan · May 18, 2015 7:01am PDT

The first suite of apps that Facebook announced for Messenger were all for lightweight communication: sending people emojis, sound clips, gifs and the like. Now, almost two months into the launch of the Messenger platform, the company is ramping up its interest in games, regarded as stickier and higher revenue apps more likely to draw interest... The first suite of apps that Facebook announced for Messenger were all for lightweight...

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon. Photo by Bloomberg.

Wal-Mart Preps Rival to Amazon Prime

By Amir Efrati · May 13, 2015 10:20am PDT · 3 comments

Wal-Mart Stores is preparing to launch a subscription fast-shipping service similar to Amazon Prime to boost its online business and take on Amazon.com, according to people involved with or briefed about the product. Codenamed “Tahoe,” the service follows a painful multi-year software overhaul for the Wal-Mart’s e-commerce business and recent... Wal-Mart Stores is preparing to launch a subscription fast-shipping service similar to Amazon...

Google SVP Sundar Pichai, who oversees Android and Google Play. Photo by Bloomberg.

Google Sweetens Android for App Developers

By Amir Efrati · May 5, 2015 7:01am PDT · 2 comments

App stores have hardly been hotbeds of innovation in recent years. But Google is taking some new steps—albeit small ones—to evolve its Android marketplace, Google Play. At the Google I/O conference, scheduled for the end of May in San Francisco, the company is expected to announce several new features for its Google Play mobile app store. Among... App stores have hardly been hotbeds of innovation in recent years. But Google is taking some new...

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts. Photo by Bloomberg.

Next for Comcast: Web Video Outside Cable Footprint

By Amir Efrati · Apr 30, 2015 7:01am PDT

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts. Photo by Bloomberg.

Next for Comcast: Web Video Outside Cable Footprint

By Amir Efrati · Apr 30, 2015 7:01am PDT

Now that Comcast has abandoned its takeover of Time Warner Cable, the cable company can proceed with its long-planned move to take on YouTube and others with a national online video service offering short-form programs. The proposed video service would mark a brand new chapter for Comcast, which would be able to play in a loosely regulated... Now that Comcast has abandoned its takeover of Time Warner Cable, the cable company can proceed...

Photo by Bloomberg.

Drop in Discover Traffic Poses Questions for Snapchat

By Tom Dotan · Apr 29, 2015 12:03pm PDT

Three months after Snapchat launched Discover, the section of the social networking app where media firms can post short articles and videos, the initial buzz has faded—along with the audience. But some of Discover’s arrangements with media firms are due to expire in June, giving Snapchat an opportunity to tweak both its content lineup and... Three months after Snapchat launched Discover, the section of the social networking app where...

Trying out Samsung's VR headset and phone. Photo by Bloomberg.

The Coming VR Software War

By Jessica E. Lessin and Tom Dotan · Apr 24, 2015 7:01am PDT · 3 comments

Since 2007, Google, Apple and others have been sparring over who controls the software that powers our phones. Now, a battle that some hope could similarly reshape power structures is brewing over software that powers virtual reality. It’s early days for the simulation technology, and even some of VR’s biggest supporters say it may not go... Since 2007, Google, Apple and others have been sparring over who controls the software that...

Photo by Bloomberg.

Rosenberg Takes Over Google Robotics, Temporarily

By Jessica E. Lessin and Amir Efrati · Apr 22, 2015 10:41am PDT · 1 comment

Google’s robotics unit—the former pet project of Andy Rubin—has had its leadership shuffled as it remains in limbo. The unit is now reporting to Jonathan Rosenberg, who oversaw Google’s products when Eric Schmidt was CEO but recently has taken a back seat, doing things like leading the operating committee at Motorola Mobility (before Lenovo... Google’s robotics unit—the former pet project of Andy Rubin—has had its leadership shuffled as it...

Jawbone CEO Hosain Rahman. Photo by Bloomberg.

Inside Jawbone’s Up3 Misstep

By Reed Albergotti · Apr 21, 2015 7:01am PDT

Jawbone CEO Hosain Rahman. Photo by Bloomberg.

Inside Jawbone’s Up3 Misstep

By Reed Albergotti · Apr 21, 2015 7:01am PDT

Jawbone founder and chief executive officer Hosain Rahman was dealt bad news in late summer of 2014. Early tests of his company’s forthcoming flagship product, a health-tracking bracelet called the Up3 designed with swimmers in mind, showed the product wasn’t consistently water-resistant. Scheduled to be released during the holiday season late... Jawbone founder and chief executive officer Hosain Rahman was dealt bad news in late summer of...

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer. Photo by Bloomberg.

Mobile Messaging Wars: Phase Two

By Amir Efrati · Apr 15, 2015 7:01am PDT · 3 comments

The first mobile-messaging wars are largely over. SMS text-replacement services like WhatsApp and others have solidified their dominance. But as messaging evolves into a service beyond one-on-one communications, more battles are beginning. And the stakes are as big as controlling commerce or search. Google is developing a new “phone dialer” app... The first mobile-messaging wars are largely over. SMS text-replacement services like WhatsApp and...

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer with Adam Cahan, mobile and emerging products group senior VP.

At Yahoo and Tumblr, Organizational Changes Afoot

By Amir Efrati · Apr 7, 2015 4:40pm PDT

A major shake-up is brewing at Yahoo that could end Tumblr’s run as a standalone unit and rearrange the upper ranks of the Web firm’s product organization, which has struggled under CEO Marissa Mayer. She discussed some of the coming changes last week during an executive off-site meeting. A major shake-up is brewing at Yahoo that could end Tumblr’s run as a standalone unit and...

Illustration by Matt Vascellaro

The Ascension of Google’s Sridhar Ramaswamy

By Amir Efrati · Apr 6, 2015 7:00am PDT · 2 comments

In late 2013, Google’s top two ad executives, Sridhar Ramaswamy and Susan Wojcicki, were at war. They complained about each other to colleagues and tussled over an important new ad technology initiative. Tensions culminated in a meeting when Mr. Ramaswamy suggested Ms. Wojcicki and her team were “hiding the truth,” according to... In late 2013, Google’s top two ad executives, Sridhar Ramaswamy and Susan Wojcicki, were at...

Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel. Photo by Flickr/TechCrunch.

Snapchat Hitting Sales Reset After Executive Shakeup

By Tom Dotan · Mar 31, 2015 7:01am PDT

Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel. Photo by Flickr/TechCrunch.

Snapchat Hitting Sales Reset After Executive Shakeup

By Tom Dotan · Mar 31, 2015 7:01am PDT

The abrupt departure of two senior Snapchat executives—chief operating officer Emily White and revenue head Mike Randall—has caused some confusion and concern among employees and outside partners, according to two people close to the situation. Unsurprisingly these changes have been reflected most sharply in the company’s relationship with... The abrupt departure of two senior Snapchat executives—chief operating officer Emily White and...

A scene from Google’s Ingress game. Via Flickr.

Google Takes Its Web Game to TV

By Tom Dotan and Amir Efrati · Mar 26, 2015 10:38am PDT

When Google launched a gaming studio five years ago, it was largely an effort to keep a valued employee. Now, the first game developed by the studio, Ingress, has become so popular that Google is developing it into a television show. Google’s game studio, called Niantic Labs, is yet to pitch the show to TV networks but it has partnered with Sean... When Google launched a gaming studio five years ago, it was largely an effort to keep a valued...

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. Photo by Bloomberg.

Facebook Pitching Advertisers on “Anthology” Video Package

By Amir Efrati and Tom Dotan · Mar 24, 2015 6:49am PDT · 4 comments

In a significant expansion of its video strategy, Facebook is in discussions with several media firms, including Vice, The Onion and Vox Media, to produce short-form videos for the social network, according to people involved in the project. Known within Facebook as “Anthology,” the latest video push is aimed at injecting higher-quality videos... In a significant expansion of its video strategy, Facebook is in discussions with several media...

Greylock Partners in Talks To Invest in Meerkat

By Tom Dotan and Amir Efrati · Mar 19, 2015 8:47am PDT · 11 comments

Greylock Partners is in talks to invest in app of the moment Meerkat, The Information has learned. VCs have been chasing the company since SXSW and the activity has formalized into a fundraising round. It is unclear where the valuation will land or whether Greylock will win the deal. But the talks are progressing quickly. Greylock Partners is in talks to invest in app of the moment Meerkat, The Information has...

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. Photo by Bloomberg.

Uber, Tesla Energize Mapping Sector As Deal Buzz Spreads

By Amir Efrati · Mar 19, 2015 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. Photo by Bloomberg.

Uber, Tesla Energize Mapping Sector As Deal Buzz Spreads

By Amir Efrati · Mar 19, 2015 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

The digital mapping industry is suddenly the scene of intense activity, as new tech powerhouses like Uber and Tesla Motors as well as startups jostle to develop new mapping services to reduce their reliance on industry leader Google Maps. The fervor has fueled poaching of experienced mapping engineers and is stoking expectations of major... The digital mapping industry is suddenly the scene of intense activity, as new tech powerhouses...