AT&T chooses Synacor over Yahoo for hosting services
1. AT&T may have seen the writing on the wall. With Verizon Communications emerging as the company most likely to buy Yahoo, AT&T has decided to shift business away from the Internet search engine. AT&T will take its mobile and web portal hosting business to Synacor in what could be the biggest deal ever for the white-label portal provider. Yahoo will continue to host email for AT&T’s Internet customers.
Synacor’s share price rose more than 100% on news of the deal, which one analyst said could be worth up to $100 million per year for the New York company. Synacor’s other customers include CenturyLink, Windstream and Verizon.
2. Netflix is adding video optimization to its iOS and Andriod apps. The video streaming service said it wants to give people more control of how much data they use on cellular networks. The company said the default setting in its new iOS and Android apps will enable a user to stream about three hours of video per gigabyte of data, which currently equals about 600 kilobits per second.
“Our testing found that, on cellular networks, this setting balances good video quality with lower data usage to help avoid exceeding data caps and incurring overage fees,” the company said in a blog post. Users can adjust the default setting if they want a higher bitrate. The move puts viewers in control of video optimization on mobile devices, which could take some of the heat off Netflix.
3. T-Mobile US is said to be getting ready for another “un-carrier” event. This one is expected to involve marketing partnerships with other companies, including Domino’s Pizza and Wendy’s. Those companies are expected to offer free food to T-Mobile US customers who want to binge on while they Binge On.
4. Apple added software giant SAP to its stable of enterprise partners. The iPhone maker’s deal with the German company follows partnerships with IBM and Cisco, both announced within the past two years.
SAP plans to create iOS apps targeting specific vertical markets, including health care and retail. In addition, Apple and SAP plan to release a software development kit by the end of this year. SAP has been aggressively targeting the industrial “Internet of Things” space, so the partnership gives Apple a new avenue into those markets.
5. Driverless taxis are coming to the U.S., according The Wall Street Journal. General Motors is expected to launch the service with Lyft, the Uber competitor that secured a $500 million investment from the automaker late last year. GM is also planning to buy driverless technology startup Cruise Automation, and is expected to use the Cruise technology in Chevrolet Bolt electric taxis. GM has not shared details about which city or cities it will choose to test the service.
Follow me on Twitter.
