RUMORS HAVE BEEN SWIRLING so fiercely over Twitter’s future that a Panamanian gambling company recently opened betting over which giant will snap it up first. (Apple remains the favorite over Facebook, apparently.) Weighty TechCrunch has openly recommended that the company stay independent and “spread its wings.” But we take a different view. The reality is that the public always needs something to toy with around on the internet. This was true for the early web game “Gay or Eurotrash?” And it was also true MySpace, YouTube, and Facebook. Twitter is hot now – and won’t be forever. Whether the founders know that will determine whether they will accept the cash surely already placed on the table by more than one major player. 5/14/09.
THE MARKET: Will Apple acquire or merge with Twitter by the end of Q3 2009? If so, shares are worth $100, if not, they are worth $0. (Note that this market seeks to measure whether an acquisition or merger will be announced within this period, not whether such a deal would be finalized or go through.) Trading will close August 15, 2009.
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