Posted on 02/09/2011 9:03:08 PM PST by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Google Inc and Facebook Inc, plus others, have held low level takeover talks with Twitter that give the Internet sensation a value as high as $10 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported.
In December, Twitter raised $200 million in financing in a deal that valued it at $3.7 billion. The company, which allows users to broadcast 140-character messages to groups of followers, had 175 million users as of September.
The Wall Street Journal reported on its website that executives at Twitter have held "low level" talks with executives at Facebook and Google in recent months about a possible takeover of Twitter.
Citing people familiar with the matter, the WSJ said other companies have also held similar talks.
"But what's remarkable is the money that people familiar with the matter say frames the discussions with at least some potential suitors; an estimated valuation in the neighborhood of $8 billion to $10 billion," the report said.
The paper said the talks have so far gone nowhere and that Google, Facebook and Twitter all declined to comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Modern day robber barons of the internet.
Under what authority could they take over another website?
Same authority you would have to take over someone else's house. They would buy it.
I think you are confused (due to poor reporting.)
This is about possible acquisition of on Internet company by another. Given that Twitter is privately held, the deal only happens when their price is met. Apparently Google and Facebook think Twitter is worth adding a lot of zeros to a check to buy them out. Frankly I don’t see it (and I like Twitter.) Most of this is about eliminating or freezing out the competition, not seeing real value added.
I like to be considered an “early rejector” of technologies that add nothing to my life.
Tech is a tool, not a life style. I prefer real people; this is about as far out there as I get.
I can see where gangs and flash mobs like it, though.
It would be a pity if Twitter was gobbled up as it is the only social media site I bother with, the thought of being tossed into the Google/Facebook paddock is unappealing to me to say the least.
It’s called MONEY.
I recommend Facebook. It is absolutely the second greatest website after Free Republic. It allows you to get back to touch with so many people. People have found me from 20 years ago and it is fun to catch up.
By and large real people suck. I prefer you AI constructs that FR provides. Very lifelike and always entertaining.
I love technology and have numerous sites, blogs and social media sites. I really don’t get the consumer appeal of Twitter. Its like reading the text messages of a stranger with bad typing skills.
Yup, the key phrase here is “add nothing to my life”.
Or anyone elses. If our ancestors spent all their time tweeting we’d be eating grass and speaking French.
It would be fun to buy it, just to mess with people. Like, for example, to arbitrarily cut the message length from 144 to say, 20 characters. See if the narcissistic dweebs can tell the world their life history more succinctly ;-)
Or maybe just filter out all vowels. Just because we can.
“People have found me from 20 years ago and it is fun to catch up.”
Funny you should say that, I have the exact opposite opinion: If I haven’t bothered with someone in 20 years, I don’t want to.
Pretty much the only people I use FB to stay in touch with are my Italian relatives, so for that it has FB has a use.
OTOH, “Brad ‘the stoner’” from high school, FRIEND REQUEST REJECTED.
Only if you are insane.
One should keep as small an Internet footprint as humanly possible. Actually associating your RL name with anything other than directory information (and even then there is a risk) is tantamount to begging to be the victim of ID theft or worse.
The interwebz are forever -- FOREVER! A moment of pique posted in haste stays with you forever. There is nothing you can do to remove the stain -- and it could come back to haunt you professionally, personally and even legally.
I already am in touch with people from my past with whom I wish to associate. There is no one from my past I wish to connect with.
I keep a very narrow LinkedIn profile for professional contacts. That profile is only direct contact information -- no opinions other than those within my profession (and usually redacted from White Papers I have published).
Facebook is the golden goose for ID thieves. And, of course, is the biggest barrier to employment today and tomorrow.
But don’t you want to know that ‘Brad the Stoner’ is now a chairman of a major House committee on Beacon Hill (and can still polish off a roach like a pro) ?
Reminds me of an old joke. If all your neighbors are assholes, wherever you live, what does that tell you?
We are citizens of our community. We set the bar for ourselves and our families.
In the winter, here in the sticks, FR saves on gas.
>>We are citizens of our community. We set the bar for ourselves and our families.
In the winter, here in the sticks, FR saves on gas.<<
John worked extra-hard on the subroutine/method that creates your lifelike responses didn’t he?
;) :)
Besides that, from what I can gather (based on the FB page of my HS class reunion last November which I wouldn't have gone to if I was offered my weight in gold) I don't think any of them are pols. Probable welfare cases and public union employees, of course. A couple of them that are cops should in no manner have access to firearms, period.
Anyone with a brain and a sense of self-worth got the hell outta that area ASAP. I know I did.
Big “AMEN” to that! Very well put and very true!
The authority of moolah. As in they back a dump-truck full of it, to the doors of Twitter, and tell their principles to "dig in".
Not sure where your headed but yes there is a normative style for this site.
If you don’t think this is real, thats fine.
Worked, came home, put some round bales out for the cows. Have 1 new calf today; 6 total so far. She got licked off and dried- wasn’t shivering so I think she’s good even though it’ll be around zero tonight. If she was wet and shivering at sunset I’d have brought her in by the wood stove.
Take care.
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