Those with knowledge of the talks told the Wall Street Journal that representatives from each of the companies had met to discuss how Flipboard – an elegant magazine-style app popular with news junkies – might be integrated with their own individual offerings.
Whereas Google and Yahoo are reportedly yet to talk money, Twitter is said to be interested in an all-stock takeover deal that had valued Flipboard at more than $1 billion. Of course, with giants like Google and Yahoo entering the fray, it’s possible a bidding war could break out, pushing the value of any deal way above initial expectations.
While Twitter apparently last discussed the matter with Flipboard back in April, the other two Web companies are reported to have met with representatives from the startup much more recently.
The interest in five-year-old Flipboard suggests the Web giants are looking increasingly at different ways to bring more content to their services, presented via an attractive interface. As the Journal points out, Facebook recently rolled out Instant Articles offering quick access to publishers’ content, while instant messaging app Snapchat is also looking at ways to introduce news material in an effort to broaden the appeal of its service.
Of course, it’s possible the talks between Flipboard and potential suitors could end up going nowhere, but these recent reports indicate the startup is interested in a possible deal. We’ll let you know if and when that happens.
