Apple is rumored to be in talks with Twitter high-ups to acquire the free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read others' tweets (updates). According to a ValleyWag report, a senior Apple insider told the site that, “Apple and Twitter are in serious negotiations, with the goal of unveiling a deal by June 8, when Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference launches in San Jose.”
The report continues to outline that, “Twitter turned down a $500 million offer in cash and stock from Facebook, in part because Twitter's investors couldn't agree on whether Facebook's stock was worth as much as Facebook said it was. But Apple could easily pay cash.”
Citing “a source familiar with the thinking of Twitter's board,” ValleyWag continues to speculate that Twitter would be “hard-pressed to refuse an all-cash offer in the range of $700 million.”
TechCrunch has followed in with a story where Michael Arrington cites “a normally reliable source” as saying that, “Apple is in late stage negotiations to buy Twitter and is hoping to announce it at WWDC in June.” Needless to point out, the two reports are very consistent with one another, although neither Twitter, nor (especially) Apple have confirmed a thing. Moreover, industry watchers have already begun to dismiss the alleged purchase.
There are several other reasons to believe Apple may not, in fact, be interested in acquiring the social networking and micro-blogging service. One of those is the multitude of Twitter-aimed apps floating around in the App Store, making good money for Apple without needing to actually own the service. Plus, there's no real indication as to how Twitter would serve Apple, while the Mac maker could easily introduce a similar service, even as an additional feature to MobileMe.
What's your take on this one, dear reader?