iWorld
Vodafone Idea plans new music streaming service
MUMBAI: The largest telecom player of India is now planning to bet on a music streaming service. Vodafone Idea Ltd has plans in store to launch a new music streaming app while its biggest rivals already have ventured into the segment. The telco player will come up with the new app through partnership though did not reveal the name of the concerned company.
At a time when all the telco players are upping their content game, the strategic move will definitely help Vodafone Idea going forward, especially to take on Bharti Airtel’s Wynk Music and Reliance Jio’s JioSaavn. With the entry of the new music streaming app, the existing Idea Music app will be shut down.
“We are sunsetting the Idea Music app and we will come up very soon with an offering that will provide the best-in-class music streaming services, through a partnership that we are in the final stages of closing," Vodafone Idea chief executive officer Balesh Sharma said in a post-earnings conference call with analysts.
The move could help the telco giant to retain subscribers also. Since the entry of Jio in the market, the ARPU of the operators has declined rapidly due to the ongoing tariff war. Two legit players including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea saw revenues from wireless business drop significantly over last two years.
However, the competition for Vodafone Idea’s new entrant will not be easy. Along with Wynk Music and JioSaavn, there are other players like players Gaana, Hungama, Apple Music and Google Play Music. Moreover, Spotify is expected to enter the Indian market by March as per media reports.
iWorld
Bluesky’s CEO Jay Graber steps down, Toni Schneider takes the helm
Graber moves to innovation role as interim CEO Schneider steers platform of 40m users
SEATTLE: Jay Graber, the driving force behind Bluesky, is stepping down as CEO and moving into the newly created role of chief innovation officer. Graber, who has been at the forefront of building the open social platform since 2019, leaves the day-to-day running to focus on new ideas and innovation.
Stepping in as interim CEO is Toni Schneider, former boss of Automattic and partner at True Ventures, who has been an advisor to Bluesky for the past two years. Schneider brings a wealth of experience in open platforms, having worked with WordPress, Yahoo’s developer network, and supported companies like Bandcamp.
Bluesky, created by Jack Dorsey as an alternative to Twitter, has grown into a thriving social network with over 40 million users. Its open AT Protocol allows users to own their data and identity, while developers can build apps on top of the platform. Schneider described Bluesky as “a real, scalable foundation for a different kind of internet.”
Graber praised the team she assembled, saying the platform’s success stems from matching people’s passions with their strengths. “Scaling up this company has been a learning experience unlike anything else,” she wrote in a blog post, adding that she is “excited to dig into the next frontier of what decentralized social can be.”
The board has begun a search for a permanent CEO, but for now, Schneider will guide Bluesky through its next chapter of growth, supporting the team, users, and developers alike.
Bluesky’s rise gained attention during the November 2024 exodus from X, formerly Twitter, when changes to the platform prompted users to look for alternatives. With Schneider now at the helm, the platform looks set to continue its journey as a user-focused, open social network.
