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Amazon Pharmacy to expand same-day delivery to nearly 4,500 US cities
TechCrunch· 2026-02-11 15:46
Core Insights - Amazon Pharmacy plans to expand same-day prescription delivery to nearly 4,500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of this year, adding almost 2,000 new communities to its network [1] - The expansion will include newly served states such as Idaho and Massachusetts [1] Company Background - Amazon launched Amazon Pharmacy in 2020 following its $753 million acquisition of PillPack, a prescription medicine delivery service [2] - In 2023, Amazon introduced RxPass, a service allowing Prime members in the U.S. to access unlimited generic medications for a monthly fee of $5 [2] Strategic Initiatives - John Love, vice president of Amazon Pharmacy, emphasized the company's goal to eliminate barriers to medication access, enhancing speed, cost, and convenience for patients [3] - In October, Amazon introduced prescription vending machines at One Medical clinics, enabling patients to pick up prescriptions immediately after their appointments [3]
Samsung to hold its Galaxy S26 event on February 25
TechCrunch· 2026-02-11 07:06
Samsung sent out invites Tuesday to its next Galaxy Unpacked event, scheduled for February 25 in San Francisco, where the company is expected to launch its Galaxy 26 series of smartphones.AI features will be at the forefront again, as the company said the upcoming phones are “built to simplify everyday interactions, inspire confidence and make Galaxy AI feel seamlessly integrated from the moment it’s in hand.” A standout feature the company has teased is a privacy display expected to debut on the Galaxy S2 ...
Google sent personal and financial information of student journalist to ICE
TechCrunch· 2026-02-10 20:41
Core Viewpoint - Google provided extensive personal data of a student and journalist to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in response to an administrative subpoena that lacked judicial approval [1][2]. Group 1: Data Provided - Google handed over usernames, physical addresses, IP addresses, phone numbers, subscriber numbers, identities, and financial information linked to Amandla Thomas-Johnson's account [2]. - The data transfer occurred shortly after Cornell University informed Thomas-Johnson that his student visa had been revoked [3]. Group 2: Nature of the Subpoena - The subpoena included a gag order and did not specify the justification for ICE's request for personal data [3]. - Administrative subpoenas are issued by federal agencies without judicial oversight and can request identifiable information but not the contents of emails or online searches [5]. Group 3: Broader Implications - This incident exemplifies the U.S. government's use of administrative subpoenas to obtain data from tech companies regarding individuals critical of the government, including those involved in protests [4]. - The Electronic Frontier Foundation has urged major tech companies to cease providing data to the Department of Homeland Security in response to such subpoenas, emphasizing the need for user privacy protection [7][9].
What to know about Netflix's landmark acquisition of Warner Bros.
TechCrunch· 2026-02-10 15:56
Core Viewpoint - The acquisition of Warner Bros. by Netflix marks a significant shift in the streaming industry, potentially disrupting Hollywood and consolidating major franchises under one platform [2][3]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - Netflix has acquired Warner Bros.' film and television studios, HBO, HBO Max, and other assets, bringing together iconic franchises like Game of Thrones and Harry Potter [2]. - The deal is valued at approximately $82.7 billion, with Netflix offering $27.75 per WBD share in an all-cash agreement [9][10]. - Paramount had initially offered around $108 billion to acquire the entire company, but Netflix's focused offer on specific assets was deemed more attractive by WBD's board [8]. Group 2: Competitive Bidding Process - The bidding process for WBD became competitive, with Paramount and Comcast emerging as serious contenders, but Netflix ultimately secured the deal [6][8]. - Paramount's proposal was rejected due to concerns about its heavy debt load, which would have left the combined company with $87 billion in debt [12]. - Paramount has continued to pursue WBD's assets, even filing a lawsuit for more information about the Netflix deal [13]. Group 3: Regulatory Scrutiny - The deal faces intense regulatory scrutiny, with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos scheduled to testify before a U.S. Senate committee [15]. - Prominent lawmakers have expressed concerns that the merger could lead to excessive market power, potentially harming consumers and stifling competition [16]. - If regulators block the acquisition, Netflix would be liable for a $5.8 billion breakup fee [17]. Group 4: Industry Reactions - The entertainment industry has largely reacted negatively, with the Writers Guild of America calling for the merger to be blocked on antitrust grounds [19]. - Concerns have been raised about the potential impact on independent creators and job losses within the industry [19]. - Netflix has indicated that operations at HBO will remain largely unchanged in the near term, with no immediate pricing changes expected during the regulatory approval period [21][22]. Group 5: Timeline for Closure - The deal is not yet finalized, with a WBD stockholder vote expected around April, and the acquisition anticipated to close 12 to 18 months after that vote, pending regulatory approvals [23].
Spotify hits a record 751M monthly users thanks to Wrapped, new free features
TechCrunch· 2026-02-10 14:00
Core Insights - Spotify experienced a peak in user numbers in the last quarter, attributed to its year-end "Wrapped" campaign and enhancements to its free tier [1] - The company reported a record 38 million new users in Q4, bringing total monthly active users to 751 million, an 11% increase year-over-year [1] - Paying subscribers rose by 10% to 290 million during the same quarter [1] User Engagement - The "Wrapped" campaign engaged over 300 million users and generated 630 million shares on social media across 56 languages [2] Financial Performance - Revenue reached €4.53 billion ($5.39 billion), marking a 7% increase from the previous year, driven by an 8% rise in subscription revenue [3] - The ad-supported segment saw a 4% decline in revenue to €518 million ($616.6 million) [3] - Gross margin improved by 83 basis points to a record high of 33.1%, reflecting increased ad sales for podcasts and music [3] Leadership Transition - The solid performance coincides with the transition to new co-CEOs Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström, who are now managing a significantly expanded business [4] Business Expansion - Spotify has diversified from being a music streaming service to include podcasts, audiobooks, and physical bookstores, along with features like music videos and video podcasts [5] - The company has enhanced its retention strategy by introducing social features such as group chats and song-sharing capabilities [5] Technological Innovations - New AI features have been introduced, including an AI DJ and AI-generated playlists, allowing users to customize their listening experience by excluding certain tracks [6] Market Strategy - Spotify has focused on profitability by increasing subscription prices in the U.S. and Europe and enhancing its free tier to attract users from competitors like YouTube Music and Amazon Music [8] - The company anticipates reaching 759 million users and 293 million paying subscribers in the current quarter [8]
Lyft opens its ride-hailing app to teens
TechCrunch· 2026-02-09 18:05
Core Insights - Lyft has launched teen accounts allowing minors as young as 13 to use the ride-hailing service in 200 U.S. cities, including major urban areas like Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and New York [1] Group 1: Product Features and Safety Measures - The teen accounts can only be created by a parent or guardian, ensuring parental control over the account [2] - Drivers matched with underage passengers must meet additional criteria and pass yearly background checks, enhancing safety [2] - Features such as PIN verification, audio recording, and real-time tracking are included to allow parents to monitor their teen's rides [3] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Lyft's introduction of teen accounts is seen as a move to catch up with competitors like Uber, which has offered similar accounts since 2017, and Waymo, which provides teen accounts in its robotaxi service in Phoenix [4] - Uber has expanded its teen account service to numerous U.S. markets and countries, indicating a competitive edge in this segment [4] Group 3: Strategic Developments - The launch of teen accounts is part of a broader strategy under CEO David Risher, who has introduced various new products and partnerships since taking the role [5] - Lyft has made significant moves in the autonomous vehicle space through partnerships with companies like May Mobility and Mobileye [5] - The company has also expanded into Europe with a $197 million acquisition of the German multi-mobility app Freenow, marking its entry into the European market [6]
Uber to buy delivery arm of Turkey's Getir
TechCrunch· 2026-02-09 15:07
Core Insights - Uber has agreed to acquire Getir's food delivery business for $335 million and a 15% stake in its grocery, retail, and water delivery business for an additional $100 million, with plans to complete the acquisition over the next few years [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition involves Uber purchasing Getir's food delivery business and a stake in its other delivery services from Mubadala, Getir's largest shareholder [2] - Uber plans to integrate Getir's food delivery services with Trendyol Go, another delivery service it acquired for $700 million [9] Group 2: Getir's Background - Getir, once valued at $12 billion, has faced significant challenges, leading to a massive scaling down of operations and layoffs in the U.S., U.K., and Europe [3][4] - The company has raised a total of $2.40 billion and valued its group assets at $374 million in court documents [5] Group 3: Financial Performance - Getir's food delivery business recorded gross bookings of over $1 billion in 2025, reflecting a 50% increase from the previous year [9] - Uber's delivery business reported revenue of $4.89 billion in the fourth quarter, a 30% increase year-over-year, with Europe, the Middle East, and Asia being the fastest-growing regions [10]
Reddit says it's looking for more acquisitions in adtech and elsewhere
TechCrunch· 2026-02-06 18:33
Group 1: M&A Strategy - Reddit is preparing for more mergers and acquisitions (M&A), focusing on businesses that can leverage its large user base or help grow its user base [1][2] - The company is looking for capabilities and technologies that can enhance its business, emphasizing a spectrum of opportunities rather than specific targets [2][6] - Past acquisitions, particularly in adtech, have been successful for Reddit, allowing the company to integrate technologies quickly and improve monetization [3][6] Group 2: Financial Performance - In the recent quarter, Reddit reported strong earnings with $726 million in revenue, of which $690 million came from advertising [7] - The company experienced a 19% year-over-year increase in global daily active unique users, reaching 121.4 million, and earnings per share of $1.24 exceeded estimates [7] - Reddit sees potential for future revenue generation from its AI search product, indicating possible interest in M&A in this area as well [7][8] Group 3: Recent Acquisitions - Reddit has been increasing its investments in AI, including the development of an AI search engine, and has previously acquired startups to enhance its advertising tools [8][9] - Notable acquisitions include Memorable AI, Spell, Spiketrap, Oterlu, and MeaningCloud, all aimed at improving Reddit's machine learning and advertising capabilities [8][9]
Reddit looks to AI search as its next big opportunity
TechCrunch· 2026-02-05 23:20
Core Insights - Reddit's AI-powered search engine is viewed as a significant business opportunity, with potential to impact revenue despite not being monetized yet [1] - The company believes generative AI search will outperform traditional search for many queries, particularly those requiring multiple perspectives [1][2] - Weekly active users for search increased by 30% over the past year, from 60 million to 80 million, while AI-powered Reddit Answers grew from 1 million to 15 million users [2] Product Development - Reddit is modernizing its AI answers interface to include more media-rich responses, with pilot programs already in progress [3] - The company plans to merge its AI search feature with traditional search to enhance user experience, having made significant progress in this unification [5] User Engagement and Personalization - Starting in Q3 2026, Reddit will eliminate the distinction between logged-in and logged-out users to personalize the site using AI and machine learning [4] - The content licensing business, which allows other companies to train their AI models on Reddit's data, is also growing, contributing to non-ad revenue [5] Financial Performance - Reddit's "other" revenue, which includes content licensing, increased by 8% year-over-year to $36 million in Q4 and rose 22% to $140 million for the year 2025 [5]
AWS revenue continues to soar as cloud demand remains high
TechCrunch· 2026-02-05 23:11
Core Insights - Amazon Web Services (AWS) achieved its strongest quarterly growth rate in over three years, with a revenue of $35.6 billion in Q4 2025, representing a 24% year-on-year increase and the largest growth rate in 13 quarters [2][3] Revenue and Financial Performance - AWS's annual revenue run rate is $142 billion, with operating income rising to $12.5 billion in Q4 2025 from $10.6 billion in Q4 2024 [2] - AWS contributed 16.6% to Amazon's overall revenue of $213.4 billion in Q4 [7] Competitive Positioning - CEO Andy Jassy highlighted that AWS's 24% growth on a $142 billion run rate is more significant than competitors' higher percentage growth on smaller bases, emphasizing AWS's leadership in incremental revenue and capacity [3] - AWS has secured new agreements with major companies and government entities, including Salesforce, BlackRock, Perplexity, and the U.S. Air Force, which fueled the fourth-quarter growth [3] Market Trends and Customer Demand - A significant portion of AWS's business comes from enterprises transitioning from on-premise infrastructure to the cloud, alongside a boost from the AI sector due to AWS's comprehensive AI stack functionality [5][7] - AWS is seeing increased demand as customers run large AI workloads, which contributes to expanding their core AWS footprint [7] Infrastructure Expansion - In Q4, AWS added over a gigawatt of power to its data center network, indicating ongoing infrastructure growth [4]