Thursday, June 04, 2009
Apple will buy Palm
Will Apple buy Palm? Probably not ;-) but let me explain why it could make sense.It seems that Palm is doing everything they can to piss off Apple these days. Not only they have multitouch, they are "copying" features from the iPhone and they are launching their phone two days before Apple WWDC.
Moreover, they recently announced support for iTunes. The only way to do it is to have access to the protocol the iPhone uses to talk to iTunes. To make the Palm Pre look like an iPhone... Reverse-engineering it is probably illegal, although you can always go with the story of "Clean Room Design". Clean like a pig in the mud, considering how many former Apple employees Palm has, starting with Jon Rubinstein (the guy who built the iPod for Steve Jobs).
You would guess Palm is looking for a lawsuit. Apple should have sued them already. But they haven't. Strange. Unless Palm has legal access to the API, which makes sense only if there are ties between the two companies that go beyond a partnership...
Clearly, the Palm Pre is ahead of what Apple has, starting with multitasking (not an easy one). I know, the new iPhone will catch up a bit, but it will still be behind. And when Palm will launch the EOS (a cheaper Pre), it will be trouble for Apple and its iPhone pricing.
The DNA of Palm is the DNA of Apple. They share it. Putting together the two teams would be easy. And the two offices are in the same area.
Lastly, it will be quite convenient for Apple to get rid of the only real competitor they have in the space. It is cheap, brings technology and innovation, it is easy to swallow.
Aren't you wondering why Apple has not sued Palm yet? I am... Maybe they are threatening a lawsuit while they negotiate a price for an acquisition (and what if this is what Elevation was targeting from day one?)
What if Monday at WWDC Steve Jobs gets on stage and shows a Palm? That would be fun :-)) Or it might happen later, after Apple actually sues Palm, lowers their price a bit and then buys them.
Bottom line, it sounds crazy, but it might not be.
Posted by Fabrizio at 18:26
5 Comments:
Donald C. Kirker said...
Apple should buy Palm out because Palm pisses Apple off? That is a pretty weak reason. Cute, but weak.
Apple needs competition. Just like Microsoft does.
I get the feeling that Apple has not sued because they have no basis for a lawsuit. It would be a huge waste of money. Not to mention, the Pre was just made public today (physically), so the only way that Apple could investigate a product would be to obtain it illegally. Not a smart way to go about obtaining evidence. The most that Apple can do right now is threaten.
I think that the idea of Apple buying Palm is crazy. :)
Anyway.. Standard disclaimer: My opinions are those of my own and do not reflect the opinions of my employer, Palm, Inc., or my company, OpenMobl Systems. Statements made should not be taken as official, or hinting, statements for either company.
Comment Posted at 16:05
DeusInvictus said...
I remember reading an article at one point when Apple first hinted at a lawsuit over the Pre's multitouch. They went down a list of patents both companies own that would cover the Pre and the iPhone/iPod Touch. If it came to a legal battle, Apple was infringing on more of Palm Patents then the other way around, it would be foolish for Apple to sue and I bet they know it.
Comment Posted at 19:11
Zibri said...
Fabrizio, this time you totally read my mind.
And I mean totally: the whole article.
We'll see but I also think there's something hidden going on between Apple and Palm..
About reverse engineering they should sue iPhone unlockers too.
(Not me because when ZiPhone was out no laws exhisted about this).
Cheers!
Comment Posted at 18:53
Edvard said...
AAPL: $25B cash on hand
PALM: Martket cap. recently tripled to $2B
Let the anschluss commence.
Comment Posted at 20:35
Ironic Virgo said...
No, Apple shouldn't buy Palm, and no Apple won't sue Palm. Not because their own patents don't have merit, but because Palm has a ton of patents themselves, some of which Apple may be violating. Furthermore, the "gains" they may receive from winning a lawsuit, would be substantially less than the cost if they lose.
