TikTok finally finds a buyer, app won’t be banned by Trump

Whatever your opinion of Donald Trump’s management of the United States, no one can deny the impact he has had on the world, whether it be economic, political or technological. His time in the White House over the past four years has been marked by: Numerous arms exchanges with China and the big companies that come from it. We are talking, of course, about ZTE, Huawei and ByteDance, the creator of TikTok.

Earlier this morning, we reported on a study in our columns that claimed the number of smartphones sold by Huawei could fall by 75% next year in the wake of US sanctions. Sanctions that not only prevent it from accessing the Google ecosystem, but also from sourcing components. By the end of September, Huawei will no longer have Kirin chipsets to put in these phones. And that will obviously affect the launch of the Mate 40.

Is there a deal to be announced next week?

As for ByteDance, the famous TikTok app is facing a ban in the US unless its American subsidiary is taken over by a Western company. Donald Trump has given the Chinese developer until September 15 to sign a deal. In less than three weeks. ByteDance is said to be in talks with Wallmart, Netflix, Twitter, Oracle and Microsoft. Netflix would refuse. Twitter wouldn’t have enough money. Wallmart wouldn’t be convinced. That leaves Oracle and Microsoft, who were the first to officially announce their intentions.

American news channel CNBC published an article today claiming that ByteDance will choose between the two, without giving more information. However, the identity of the buyer of TikTok’s activity in the United States may be revealed starting next week. The deal is reportedly not yet complete as both parties are still negotiating the transaction price. However, the amount will be included Between 20 and 30 billion dollarsThe source of this leak does not specify whether this amount includes TikTok’s European and Indian operations, which Microsoft also wants to acquire. Keep in mind that TikTok has 1,500 employees and 100 million registered users in the United States (ten 800 million worldwide).

Will Oracle or Microsoft take over TikTok in the US? Even if Oracle’s boss is a supporter of Donald Trump, everything shows thatMust be Microsoft. CNBC actually had the opportunity to speak with a spokesperson. Wallmart’s This explains his desire to partner with Microsoft to take over TikTok US (if he doesn’t do it alone). His goal: to leverage the integration of e-commerce and advertising at the app’s core to expand his own marketplace. Is this a well-founded statement or simply wishful thinking?

American CEO hits the road

Also Kevin Mayer, Former Disney+ boss The recently named CEO of TikTok US announced that he will be leaving very soon after just three months at the helm of the app. In an internal memo uncovered by the Wall Street Journal, he explains: White House’s statements against TikTok have made its mission nearly impossiblein a tense geopolitical climate. And the sale of its American operations was the final straw. His departure was initially supposed to be announced at the same time as the identity of the buyer of TikTok’s American operations.

Note that TikTok isn’t the only Chinese app that the U.S. government has threatened to ban. That also applies to WeChat, though its presence in the United States is much smaller.

Source : CNBC