Tech Brew Ride Home Fri. 01/31 - Did Uber and DoorDash Almost Merge?
Jan 31, 2020
Amazon reports a staggering 21% revenue increase, driven by holiday sales and rising AWS demand. Exciting news emerges as Uber and DoorDash explore potential merger talks, spurred by SoftBank's influence. Meanwhile, Apple Maps gets a significant redesign across the U.S. The podcast also highlights Dubsmash's rise as TikTok's closest competitor and dives into the ecological mysteries of bats and emerging healthcare technologies. Don't miss intriguing longreads on fintech and the evolution of online comedy!
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Amazon's Strong Q4
- Amazon's Q4 earnings revealed strong growth, exceeding $1 trillion market cap again.
- Despite heavy investment in one-day shipping, Amazon maintained healthy margins, indicating efficient cost management.
SoftBank's Investment Strategy
- Uber and DoorDash explored a merger, driven by SoftBank, their mutual investor.
- SoftBank's strategy of backing multiple competitors in the same sector, like food delivery and ride-hailing in Latin America, fuels intense price wars and hinders profitability.
EU Charger Standard
- The European Parliament voted to standardize mobile device chargers, aiming to reduce e-waste.
- Apple opposes this, arguing it would stifle innovation and potentially increase e-waste due to forced transitions.