Parmy Olson's Blog, page 27

How A Hacker Turned Slack Into His Family's Control Room

Buying groceries, tracking the kids, and even quizzing them on their homework - it’s all possible on the chat app that wants to be re-programmed.

Opera Software Gets $1.2 Billion Buyout Offer From Chinese Consortium

Billionaire founder of Qihoo 360 is behind the group of new investors that want to pick up the browser that became an advertising company.

Tango Carves Off Games And Chat Rooms To Re-Focus On Messaging

It started as a video-calling app to rival Skype but veered too far into Tinder-like territory, annoying its core users. Now it’s keeping investors at Alibaba happy and going back to basics.

Once A Target Of Facebook, SwiftKey's A.I. Tech Goes To Microsoft For $250 Million

Microsoft adds to its new string of productivity apps while bolstering its artificial intelligence technology. Facebook tried and failed to buy the language tech company two years ago, sources say.

One-Seventh Of The Global Population Now UsesWhatsApp

As WhatsApp hits 1 billion users it’s time to start thinking seriously about bringing businesses onto its platform.

WhatsApp Is Finally Inviting Businesses Onto Its Massive Network This Year

The world’s biggest messaging app takes its first steps towards becoming a viable business, as it drops a $1 subscription fee and nears 1 billion users.

Could Zuckerberg's AI Project Help Bring Facebook Deeper Into Your Home?

Facebook has not yet entered the smart home business, but now its founder is building personalized artificial intelligence software for his house. That could mark a clever, long term pitch by Facebook to invite itself into your home for a new level of data gathering.

2016 Could See Google Challenge WhatsApp With Chat Bots

Google is the latest company that wants to reinvent the idea of a messaging service, as one that connects humans and computers.

After WhatsApp's Blackout In Brazil, Who Should Hold The Data Keys?

The surprise shutdown will put more pressure on web companies to give custodial access to a local telco. Microsoft might have a radical solution.

Zuckerberg: 'Sad Day For Brazil' After WhatsApp Blockade

A Brazilian court has ordered local telcos to block the country’s most popular messaging service for 48 hours.