The Information

Facebook vp of messaging products, David Marcus. Photo by Bloomberg.

Facebook Preps “Moneypenny” Assistant

By Amir Efrati · Jul 13, 2015 6:01pm PDT · 7 comments

Facebook is planning to join an intriguing frontier of the Internet: virtual assistants on mobile devices. The company is working on a feature within Facebook Messenger that allows users to ask real people for help researching and ordering products and services, among other tasks. It’s being referred to internally as “Moneypenny,” according to... Facebook is planning to join an intriguing frontier of the Internet: virtual assistants on mobile...

Ellen Pao. Photo by Bloomberg.

Gender Not Only Issue In Tech’s Workplace Complaints

By Reed Albergotti and Peter Schulz · Jul 9, 2015 7:00am PDT · 5 comments

When it comes to discrimination complaints in the tech industry, it turns out that gender is far from the only issue. Age and disability were cited nearly as often as gender in California workplace discrimination complaints filed against major tech companies over the past three years. When it comes to discrimination complaints in the tech industry, it turns out that gender is far...

At left, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. Photo by Fortune Live Media.

YouTube Subscriptions Hit Creator Roadblock

By Tom Dotan · Jun 25, 2015 12:54pm PDT

Late last year, YouTube’s CEO Susan Wojcicki began speaking up at conferences about a coming subscription service, where people would pay for an ad-free version of the video streaming site. But while YouTube executives are currently leaning hard on content owners to sign up in exchange for the promise of shared subscription dollars, some are... Late last year, YouTube’s CEO Susan Wojcicki began speaking up at conferences about a coming...

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Photo by Bloomberg.

Behind Microsoft’s Deals, a Desire to Block Rivals

By Steve Nellis · Jun 22, 2015 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Photo by Bloomberg.

Behind Microsoft’s Deals, a Desire to Block Rivals

By Steve Nellis · Jun 22, 2015 7:01am PDT · 1 comment

When Microsoft paid more than $100 million for the calendar app Sunrise in February, eyebrows raised across Silicon Valley. The app duplicated features some of Microsoft’s products already had, and Sunrise didn’t yet generate revenue. Microsoft had good reason to pay up. Sunrise had already attracted attention from Dropbox, which held talks with... When Microsoft paid more than $100 million for the calendar app Sunrise in February, eyebrows...

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Photo by Bloomberg.

Facebook Reckons with Music Piracy in Videos

By Tom Dotan · Jun 18, 2015 2:11pm PDT

As Facebook continues to flex its muscles in video to challenge YouTube, it’s running up against a problem that’s dogged video-streaming sites for years: music. Unlike YouTube, which has deals with the record labels allowing users to upload some videos with copyrighted songs playing in the background, Facebook hasn’t yet struck deals with any of... As Facebook continues to flex its muscles in video to challenge YouTube, it’s running up against...

Aparna Chennapragada runs Google Now. Photo by Bloomberg.

Google’s War Against Apps

By Amir Efrati · Jun 18, 2015 7:12am PDT · 7 comments

Google’s battle to erode the importance of apps is intensifying. The search giant last fall secretly acquired an “app streaming” startup called Agawi whose technology allows people to access apps on their smartphone without downloading them first. The acquisition, which hasn’t been previously reported, provides strong clues about the direction... Google’s battle to erode the importance of apps is intensifying. The search giant last fall...

Evernote CEO Phil Libin. Photo by Evernote.

CEO Change Brewing at Evernote

By Amir Efrati · Jun 15, 2015 4:14pm PDT · 1 comment

Evernote CEO Phil Libin has long said he wants to build a 100-year company. Now he’s actively looking for his own replacement to take the startup into its second decade. The eight-year-old, privately-held company, which makes productivity software in a crowded market, is talking to candidates for the position and “may be close to something,” Mr.... Evernote CEO Phil Libin has long said he wants to build a 100-year company. Now he’s actively...

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek. Art by Matt Vascellaro.

Spotify, Apple and the Race to $100 Billion

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jun 10, 2015 3:25pm PDT

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek. Art by Matt Vascellaro.

Spotify, Apple and the Race to $100 Billion

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jun 10, 2015 3:25pm PDT

Whenever a big company enters a startup’s turf, the founder is quick to say the move “validates the category.” The phrase induces some eye-rolling. But if there was ever a time to hear it, it would be now with Spotify. The Stockholm-based streaming music company has been on a mission to get people to pay $10 a month to access a library of music... Whenever a big company enters a startup’s turf, the founder is quick to say the move “validates...

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...