Yesterday’s opening day of the Wall Street Journal’s WSJDLive conference featured separate interviews of Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma and Apple CEO Tim Cook. Alibaba operates a series of consumer-to-consumer, business-to-consumer and business-to-business web portals, generating $120 billion+ in annual revenue. Clearly a terrific opportunity for Apple Pay.
During Jack Ma’s interview, he was asked about Apple Pay:
“I’m very interested in that,” Ma, founder of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA:US), said when asked if it made sense for his company’s Alipay Wallet mobile system to team with Apple Pay. “As always, a good marriage needs both sides hard working. I respect Apple and respect Tim very, very much.”
And during Tim Cook’s interview:
“We’re going to talk about getting married later this week,” said Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc. “I love what he’s done, I think he’s a brilliant guy. I think he has brilliant people at the company so if we can find some areas of common space, I love it. I love partnering with people like that.”
Long way from a deal, but still, interesting.
I wonder if the Chinese government will let this happen. They seem intent on constraining Apple, or worse, every chance they get. I don’t think the Powers That Be in Beijing want to see Apple gain any more traction in China than it already has. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is “made known” to Mr. Ma that Apple would be an unwise choice as a partner, for anything.
$AAPL, $BABA and Bitcoin are currently my top three investments. This is spectacular.
Watching this stupidity with ‘CurrentC’ with 7 bowls of popcorn.
I won’t enjoy seeing CurrentC compromise consumer security. Which it will.
CurrentC is DEAD ON ARRIVAL.