2020 Predictions

Below is a collection of every 2020 Predictions article by The Information.
2020 Predictions

Why Slack Will Be Acquired

By Kevin McLaughlin · Jan 2, 2020 7:01am PST · 9 comments
This time last year, Slack Technologies, the popular workplace chat provider, was one of the most eagerly anticipated public tech debuts of 2019. That seems like a long time ago. Since Slack went public in June, its stock has dropped about 40%.The reason for the slump: Revenue growth at Slack is slowing and competition is intensifying,... This time last year, Slack Technologies, the popular workplace chat provider, was one of the most...
Cast and crew of the Disney Plus series "The Mandalorian" at a premiere in Los Angeles last month. Photo by AP
2020 Predictions

Disney’s Streaming Service Will Show Big Subscriber Numbers—at First

By Tom Dotan · Dec 30, 2019 10:01am PST
Walt Disney Co. is expected to reveal by February how many subscribers its new streaming service, Disney Plus, has signed up. I’m betting the numbers will be huge. By the fall of next year, I predict, Disney will be more than halfway to its 2024 target of 60 million to 90 million subscribers, with between 35 million and 45 million... Walt Disney Co. is expected to reveal by February how many subscribers its new streaming service,...
Verizon’s 5G wireless signage at the Mobile World Congress Americas event in Los Angeles in October. Photo: Bloomberg
2020 Predictions

Why the 5G Rollout Will Fall Short of Expectations

By Christopher Stern · Dec 26, 2019 10:01am PST · 7 comments
After years of escalating hype, the wireless industry is finally rolling out 5G. And next year, with many more 5G-capable phones expected to hit the market, the new technology should become a reality for consumers.Yet despite promises of blazing speeds and coast-to-coast coverage, the leading mobile phone providers are on track to deliver little... After years of escalating hype, the wireless industry is finally rolling out 5G. And next year,...
Cast Members of "Lady and the Tramp." Photo by AP.
Why a Major Studio Will Abandon Theaters for Streaming
By Jessica Toonkel · Dec 24, 2019 10:02am PST · 1 comment
Cast Members of "Lady and the Tramp." Photo by AP.
2020 Predictions

Why a Major Studio Will Abandon Theaters for Streaming

By Jessica Toonkel · Dec 24, 2019 10:02am PST · 1 comment
For years movie theater chains and film studios have been battling about how long movies need to be shown only in theaters before becoming available elsewhere. I predict 2020 will be the year that a major studio, most likely Disney or AT&T’s WarnerMedia, breaks the mold and debuts some movies on its streaming service before they show... For years movie theater chains and film studios have been battling about how long movies need to...
Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff. Photo by Bloomberg
2020 Predictions

Why Salesforce’s Benioff Will Step Down as Co-CEO in 2020

By Kevin McLaughlin · Dec 17, 2019 10:01am PST · 2 comments
Marc Benioff, founder and co-CEO of Salesforce, loves tackling big challenges. In starting the company, he set out to prove that selling software as a subscription service rather than as a one-off purchase could become the predominant way that large companies buy it. He succeeded: Salesforce now has a market capitalization of $143 billion. ... Marc Benioff, founder and co-CEO of Salesforce, loves tackling big challenges. In starting the...
Photos by AP and Bloomberg. Art by Jesse Howe
2020 Predictions

The Information’s 2020 Tech Predictions

By The Information Staff · Dec 12, 2019 11:29am PST · 3 comments
Last year, our reporters at The Information looked into our crystal ball and made some predictions. We told you that Alphabet would make a big acquisition to help Google Cloud, that ByteDance would challenge Facebook, and that Time Warner would experience an exodus of employees in the wake of the AT&T acquisition. We were three for... Last year, our reporters at The Information looked into our crystal ball and made some...