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This is a duplicate of https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26774367 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26774367 Note: everyone is getting this acquisition w

This is a duplicate of https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26774367 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26774367 Note: everyone is getting this acquisition wrong. It's not about Dragon and their Speech-to-Tex. This is all about owning an enterprise Communication Platform (e.g. Contact Center, etc). I'll repost my previous comment from the other HN thread below: ---- Everyone is wanting to take on Twilio. Last September, Microsoft first announced their Communication Cloud. A huge focus at Twilio now is moving upstream to the Call Center, where Nuance is a significant player. So Microsoft picking up Nuance makes sense. It’s clear Microsoft sees communication services as a strategic core part of their business. (Even at the consumer / gamer level with the rumored Discord acquisition talks) https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/22/microsoft-challenges-twilio-with-the-launch-of-azure-communication-services/amp/ https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/22/microsoft-challenges-twili...

ignoramous 6y ago
> Everyone is wanting to take on Twilio. Well then we can expect Microsoft to swoop in for Twilio any year now.
- alberth 6y ago
  Given that TWLO market cap is $62B at the moment I wrote this comment, and Microsoft would have to pay a premium over that current valuation, I doubt they have the stomach to purchase someone for $70+ billion. And given that Jeff Lawson, is both he founder and CEO of TWLO - it's not entirely clear he would sell (unless the number is just so high, he has the fiduciary requirement that he has too - in which case I assume that would be north of $100B+)
  - ignoramous 6y ago
    I'd presume $2T in MarketCap could buy you multiple Twilios even at $100B. MSFT isn't shy from making large purchases unlike Amazon and Apple: They take such massive bets comparatively frequently.
  - Marciplan 6y ago
    I am likely very dense but —- at what point does a (public) company have the fudiciary requirement to sell the company? I mean, I believe you, but I’m curious when that becomes the requirement :)

ignoramous 6y ago

> Everyone is wanting to take on Twilio. Well then we can expect Microsoft to swoop in for Twilio any year now.

alberth 6y ago
Given that TWLO market cap is $62B at the moment I wrote this comment, and Microsoft would have to pay a premium over that current valuation, I doubt they have the stomach to purchase someone for $70+ billion. And given that Jeff Lawson, is both he founder and CEO of TWLO - it's not entirely clear he would sell (unless the number is just so high, he has the fiduciary requirement that he has too - in which case I assume that would be north of $100B+)
- ignoramous 6y ago
  I'd presume $2T in MarketCap could buy you multiple Twilios even at $100B. MSFT isn't shy from making large purchases unlike Amazon and Apple: They take such massive bets comparatively frequently.
- Marciplan 6y ago
  I am likely very dense but —- at what point does a (public) company have the fudiciary requirement to sell the company? I mean, I believe you, but I’m curious when that becomes the requirement :)