p2pnet news view P2P:- “If you have been trawling the web in the hopeless search for some piece of news that’s completely stunning, how about the ‘rumour’ being repeated (suspiciously similarly) by TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington and Valleywag that Apple is in ‘late-stage’ talks to buy Twitter – yes, that Twitter – for $700m, to be announced at WWDC in June?” – says The Guardian.

Rumors, says TechCrunch, “popped up that Apple may be looking to buy Twitter” for, “$700 million in cash”.

But, “we’ve checked with other sources who claim to know nothing about any Apple negotiations,” says the story, going on, “If these discussions are happening, Twitter is keeping them very quiet indeed. We would have passed on reporting this rumor at all, but other press is now picking it up.”

Says Valleywag, “A source who’s plugged into the Valley’s deal scene and has been recruited by Apple for a senior position says Apple and Twitter are in serious negotiations, with the goal of unveiling a deal by June 8, when Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference launches in San Jose.

However, says The Guardian, “Here’s the reality: Twitter is a messaging service. Apple is a hardware company. When Apple buys companies, that’s because they fit into its corporate mission, which is to sell hardware at a profit. They might be companies that specialise in touchscreen technologies, or music software companies, but if you have a look at the list of (known) Apple corporate purchases, you won’t find anything that gels with “platform-agnostic messaging service”.

“Apple isn’t buying Twitter. There’s no corporate fit. It’s not going to be announced at WWDC. It’s not going to be bought for $700m.”

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The Guardian – Apple buying Twitter? Everything points to ‘absolutely not’, May 5, 2009
TechCrunch – Apple Rumors Heat Up, May 5, 2009
Valleywag – Could Apple Buy Twitter?, May 5, 2009