Wed. 06/30 – Facebook’s Substack Clone · Tech Brew Ride Home summary

Key takeaways

Facebook's Bulletin seeks to create a competitive space for independent writers but faces criticism for its imitation of Substack.
Shopify's new revenue model positions it as a developer-friendly platform, encouraging innovation while potentially minimizing its own earnings.
The expired truce between Google and Microsoft signals a return to aggressive competition, heightening the scrutiny both companies may face from regulators.
T-Mobile's eSIM 30-day trial aims to engage new users by showcasing its strong network capabilities in a hassle-free manner.
Ziplines significant funding reflects confidence in the future of drone logistics, particularly in healthcare delivery.
Niva's pay-for-non-advertised search results targets the privacy-conscious user, betting that quality can drive subscription success.

Summary

Facebook's Subscription-Based Bulletin

Facebook has launched 'Bulletin', a platform that mirrors Substack, aimed at empowering independent writers. The initial phase includes a selective group of launch partners, and Facebook commits to not taking a cut of creators' revenues in the early stages. Mark Zuckerberg emphasized this initiative as part of the company’s strategy to bolster its creator monetization tools, despite critics pointing out the platform's striking resemblance to Substack.

Shopify's Game-Changing Revenue Model

At its Unite 2021 conference, Shopify announced it would reduce its app store commission to zero for developers earning under $1 million, with a focus on fostering innovation. This model, effective August 1, 2021, reflects Shopify’s belief that supporting developers will ultimately benefit the platform and economically incentivize them to create more apps.

The Renewed Rivalry: Microsoft vs. Google

The podcast discusses the lapse of a truce between Google and Microsoft, which had previously seen both companies refraining from lobbying against each other in regulatory disputes. With the truce now expired, conflicts are expected to escalate, especially as both giants compete in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, providing additional fodder for regulatory scrutiny.

T-Mobile's eSIM Free Trial

T-Mobile has introduced a 30-day trial for its network via an eSIM compatible iPhone app, allowing users to test the service risk-free. This initiative aims to attract new customers by showcasing T-Mobile's 5G capabilities without requiring billing information, enhancing its market presence.

Alphabet's Wing Launches OpenSky

Alphabet's drone wing has launched the 'OpenSky' app, designed to assist drone operators in identifying open airspace for flight. This initiative aims to enhance regulatory compliance among the growing number of registered drones, promoting safer shared skies and expanding drone usage across sectors.

Zipline's Expansion Amid Funding Success

Zipline has raised $250 million to further its operations in the US and Africa, concentrating on healthcare logistics. The company aims to become a leader in instant logistics, capitalizing on its pandemic-era successes in delivering crucial medical supplies, while planning extensive expansions in the next few years.

Niva: The Ad-Free Search Engine

Niva, founded by ex-Google executives, has launched as a subscription-based search engine, offering ad-free search results for $4.95 a month. This service aims to prove that users would pay for a cleaner, more private search experience, turning the traditional monetization model of search on its head.

Show notes

Facebook launches its Substack clone. Emphasis on clone. Shopify joins the platform tax wars by going to zero. A truce between Microsoft and Google has just lapsed. A big raise in the drone space. And would you pay to get actual search results instead of ads?
Sponsors:
Cybereason.com

Links:

Facebook announces Bulletin, its Substack newsletter competitor (The Verge)

Shopify drops its App Store commissions to 0% on developers’ first million in revenue (Tech Crunch)

Google and Microsoft End Their Five-Year Cease-Fire (Bloomberg)

T-Mobile is offering iPhone owners no-hassle network ‘test drives’ (The Verge)

Alphabet’s Wing launches OpenSky drone airspace authorization app in US (Tech Crunch)

Zipline raises $250M at $2.75B valuation to build out its instant logistics service (Tech Crunch)

Inside Neeva, the ad-free, privacy-first search engine from ex-Googlers (Fast Company)