Tag Archives: googl

Google’s YouTube Finally Gets Invite To T-Mobile Binge On Party

Google’s YouTube finally has an invite to the T-Mobile US ( TMUS ) Binge On party. And, the free video streaming party is getting bigger. T-Mobile on Thursday said it now excludes 50 video websites from subscribers’ monthly data caps, more than double the 24 apps supported when Binge On launched in early November. Netflix ( NFLX ) and Time Warner ’s ( TWX ) HBO were among the two-dozen video websites that T-Mobile first included in Binge On. T-Mobile had said YouTube – the fast growing website of Alphabet ’s ( GOOGL ) Google – could not be supported for technical reasons.  T-Mobile’s network software could not always detect YouTube’s videos, the “Uncarrier”-branded wireless carrier said. Other new video websites that are part of the Binge On program include Discovery GO,  Fox Business and Google Play Movies. On Wednesday, T-Mobile said it would offer subscribers a free year of access to MLB.TV for live broadcasts of Major League Baseball games through its Binge On service. Verizon Communications ( VZ ) no longer counts its own Go90 mobile video service toward subscriber data caps. Verizon has also launched the “FreeBee” sponsored data program, under which companies pay Verizon a fee so that users of their wireless apps can access content without their data consumption counting toward monthly limits. T-Mobile’s Binge On,  however, does not involve payments from content companies to T-Mobile. T-Mobile recently shot down speculation that it was working with Facebook ( FB ) on a sponsored-data type business model, according to reports. Federal regulators thus far have not opposed Binge On or wireless sponsored data programs. Net neutrality rules bar ISPs from throttling, blocking or prioritizing Web traffic. Some critics claim the Binge On program runs afoul of net neutrality rules. Image provided by Shutterstock .

3 Chinese Internet Stocks Make Moves After Earnings

Loading the player… Let’s take a look at five Chinese tech stocks that are showing compelling chart action: Ctrip, Qunar, Tencent, Alibaba and Baidu. Chinese online travel agency Ctrip ( CTRP ) reported fourth-quarter revenue that jumped 50% in local currency to beat views. Packaged tour revenue growth was lighter than expected. The company’s first-quarter revenue guidance widely missed expectations. Shares dropped as low as 39.52 in heavy volume, breaching its 50-day and 200-day lines in intraday trade. But as the stock pares its losses to a 0.5% drop to 42.42, it’s looking to find support at those levels. Ctrip is trading about 26% below its high reached last November. Ctrip owns a 45% stake in Qunar ( QUNR ), dubbed the “Kayak.com of China.” Qunar’s fourth-quarter results surpassed expectations late Wednesday. The company did not issue Q1 guidance. Shares seesawed Thursday, quickly reversing higher in the morning before paring their gains to a 1.6% rise. The stock is trading below its 50-day and 200-day lines. Those lines recently crossed, which is a bearish sign. Qunar is 35% below its late-December peak. Tencent’s ( TCEHY ) 45% quarterly revenue increase beat top-line estimates Thursday morning, boosted by strong growth in online games and social network services. The bottom line rose 21% in local currency but fell short as Tencent continues to aggressively invest in video and mobile. Shares surged 4% in light volume, hitting a nearly 4-month high. The stock is now trading 8% below its high of 22.15 reached last April, as it works on the right side of a consolidation pattern. Tencent’s rival Alibaba ( BABA ) is also consolidating. Alibaba, up 0.9% in afternoon trade, is trading 14% below a potential buy point at 86.52. Baidu ( BIDU ), a third Chinese Internet giant, will soon test autonomous cars in the U.S. – potentially rivaling Alphabet ( GOOGL )-owned Google. Baidu wants to introduce a commercial car model by 2018. Shares are working on a deep cup base with a 218.07 buy point. The stock is trading 18% below that level, edging higher Thursday afternoon.

Apple Watch Shipments Slowing Ahead Of Version 2

Apple Watch shipments will rise just 21% this year, despite having 12 months of sales to last year’s eight, market research firm IDC predicted Thursday. Apple ( AAPL ) launched its smartwatch on April 24 with limited availability in nine countries, including the U.S. IDC estimates that Apple shipped 11.6 million units of Apple Watch in 2015 and is likely to ship 14 million units in 2016. Apple Watch “is likely to see some slowdown in the early part of 2016 as anticipation builds for the second-generation device,” IDC said in a press release . “However, with newer hardware and an evolving ecosystem, Apple will remain the smartwatch leader” through 2020. Apple and its suppliers have not yet signaled when a second-generation Apple Watch will hit the market. Apple is expected to unveil new watch bands for the wearable at a spring product launch event on Monday. Apple Watch leads the nascent smartwatch market and is expected to claim 49.4% market share this year, IDC says. Alphabet ’s ( GOOGL ) Android Wear operating system is expected to be on 6.1 million smartwatches shipped this year, accounting for 21.4% of the market and good enough for second place, IDC says. IDC predicts that Apple Watch shipments will reach 31 million units in 2020, with a 5-year compound annual growth rate of 22%. Meanwhile, Android Wear smartwatches are seen growing to 28.8 million units in 2020, with a 5-year CAGR of 48%. RELATED:  Smartwatch Shipments Skyrocket In Q4, Passing Swiss Watches