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A lot of "tech" companies aren't. One reason, to avoid the scrutiny describing their actual business would expose them to more scrutiny, e.g., Uber is transpor
by JJMcJ 7y ago
A lot of "tech" companies aren't.
One reason, to avoid the scrutiny describing their actual business would expose them to more scrutiny, e.g., Uber is transportation company, not a software company.
Once the BBC described Google as an "American advertising company", now that's cold.
- barkingcat 7y agoGoogle as an "American advertising company" is a good summary of the jurisdiction of their head office, and where the bulk of their income comes from.
- SamBam 7y agoI think, from the article, that the reason that Uber would be considered a tech company and not a transportation company is a matter of assets and how it can scale. Uber is not a bus company. It does not own a gigantic fleet of cars or large depots to store them in, nor does it employ mechanics and cleaners to tend to them, or have long-term contracts for gates at stations around the country. Uber is a tech company because it really only owns software and lawyers. The cost of bringing 10,000 new vehicles on the road is minimal -- they simply increase the incentives to drivers in that area. Likewise, Air BnB is a tech company, for the same reason. WeWork, however, is simply an office real estate company. Its business model is closer to a hotel chain.
- davio 7y agoUber is probably more of a contract labor firm
- AlexandrB 7y ago> Uber is not a bus company. It does not own a gigantic fleet of cars or large depots to store them in, nor does it employ mechanics and cleaners to tend to them, or have long-term contracts for gates at stations around the country. Ironically, if Uber achieves its self-driving dreams it will have acquire all of these things.
- geolqued 7y agoAnd in doing so giving up their only "innovation" - externalizing the capital costs and risk.