Live data from Hacker News

Verizon Is Acquiring Content Delivery Network EdgeCast For More Than $350M

techcrunch.com

1–10 of 16 posts

Re: Verizon Is Acquiring Content Delivery Network EdgeCast For More Than $350M

#2
let the cross-domain surveillance continue!

[EDIT] since i'm getting downvoted, maybe someone can tell me how a CDN is not a perfect tool for cross-domain tracking. and also how it's not convenient that Verizon can track the browsing habits of users coming from their competitors' IP address blocks

Re: Verizon Is Acquiring Content Delivery Network EdgeCast For More Than $350M

#3
post #2

let the cross-domain surveillance continue! [EDIT] since i'm getting downvoted, maybe someone can tell me how a CDN is not a perfect tool for cross-domain tracking. and also how it's not convenient that Verizon can track the browsing habits of users coming from their competitors' IP address blocks

What incentive does Verizon have to spend money to track users across domains? Ultimately, Verizon exists to make money for their shareholders. ISPs do have to do things HN readers don't like to make the government happy (like comply with secret warrants), but they are not legally required to buy CDNs to make some sort of user tracking easier. The NSA can wiretap a CDN as easily as they can wiretap Verizon.

Perhaps Verizon thinks the business is underpriced for the value it offers, or they want to deliver a better user experience to their customers?

Nahh... it must be some conspiracy!!!11!

Re: Verizon Is Acquiring Content Delivery Network EdgeCast For More Than $350M

#4
post #3
post #2

let the cross-domain surveillance continue! [EDIT] since i'm getting downvoted, maybe someone can tell me how a CDN is not a perfect tool for cross-domain tracking. and also how it's not convenient that Verizon can track the browsing habits of users coming from their competitors' IP address blocks

What incentive does Verizon have to spend money to track users across domains? Ultimately, Verizon exists to make money for their shareholders. ISPs do have to do things HN readers don't like to make the government happy (like comply with secret warrants), but they are not legally required to buy CDNs to make some sort of user tracking easier. The NSA can wiretap a CDN as easily as they can wiretap Verizon. Perhaps V…

i'm not implying that's the reason they bought them - of course it isn't - just pointing out what they can do with their new superpowers.

Re: Verizon Is Acquiring Content Delivery Network EdgeCast For More Than $350M

#7

This makes me think we will see cloud flare get acquired in the next 12 months.

The CloudFlare board is young, ambitious, and well-credentialed. I'm sure a few of its members are looking toward the next big goal.

Re: Verizon Is Acquiring Content Delivery Network EdgeCast For More Than $350M

#8
Could this have anything to do with the fact they partnered with Redbox to provide a streaming service? Seems like it would be a very useful thing if they wanted to make a bigger push.

http://thenextweb.com/media/2012/02/06/verizon-and-redbox-en...

Re: Verizon Is Acquiring Content Delivery Network EdgeCast For More Than $350M

#9
post #2

let the cross-domain surveillance continue! [EDIT] since i'm getting downvoted, maybe someone can tell me how a CDN is not a perfect tool for cross-domain tracking. and also how it's not convenient that Verizon can track the browsing habits of users coming from their competitors' IP address blocks

ISP cache stuff and can sell traffic, cross-domain tracking is nothing.

I think we worry too much. We should focus on making our cryoto stronger, not about some cross-domain tracking. If third-party cookie is already a mess, cross-domain tracking is always a mess. Let's focus on something more practical and more important. Half of the websites nowadays probably add Google analytic and Google knows a lot about users for you (even if Google only stores the statistics).

Re: Verizon Is Acquiring Content Delivery Network EdgeCast For More Than $350M

#10
post #8

Could this have anything to do with the fact they partnered with Redbox to provide a streaming service? Seems like it would be a very useful thing if they wanted to make a bigger push. http://thenextweb.com/media/2012/02/06/verizon-and-redbox-en...

I see it more as a way to stop relying on Akamai [1] for Terremark [2] Application Acceleration Services.

[1] http://www.terremark.com/services/infrastructure-cloud-servi...

[2] acquired in 2011 http://www.terremark.com/about/news-events/news/2011/0127201...

Post reply on HN