Samsung Enlists Spotify and Fortnite to Fend Off Apple
*By Michael Teich*
Samsung is partnering with Spotify and Fortnite to boost slumping smartphone sales and maintain its lead over Apple.
The leading smartphone maker unveiled the new $1,000 Galaxy Note 9, and announced the viral, battle royale video game's first Android version will be available exclusively on Samsung devices. The deal may appeal to the game's 125 million players and encourage them to buy the new phone instead of Huawei or Apple devices.
Samsung is hoping the new Galaxy Note 9 will do better than the Galaxy S9, which slumped, allowing smartphone rivals to catch up. Samsung's second-quarter shipments fell 11 percent from a year earlier to 70.8 million units, according to IHS Markit. With a similar price tag to Apple's iPhone X, Samsung's new phone is going after the same high-end market.
In addition to gamers, Samsung is hoping music lovers will opt for the Galaxy Note 9 by making Spotify its go-to music partner. Samsung will integrate the Spotify app into its Smart TVs and speakers, and will make it available when customers set up their new phones.
For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/first-look-at-the-new-samsung-galaxy-note-9).
TikTok recently announced that it is testing a paid subscription model. The news comes days after Instagram publicized a similar service. TikTok has made $2.3 billion from in-app purchases, but mostly through tips, in 2021, showing that its users may be open to spending money on the platform.
Netflix beat its earnings projections for Q4 — but the stock still plummeted as the streaming pioneer cut back on its forecast for future subscribers. Michael Robinson, the chief technology strategist at Money Map Press, joined Cheddar to discuss the report and what's driving the downward pressure on its shares. "It's the growth is really what's worrying people," he said. "'A' we have slowing economic growth, and 'B' we've got slowing growth for this company, as 'C' we have an increase in competition."
Sanchali Pal, Founder and CEO of Joro, joins ChedHER to discuss how her app can help users track, reduce, and automatically offset the carbon footprint of their purchases, and gives advice for other women seeking careers in climate.
Connected cars software development platform Smartcar announced this week it has raised $24 million in a Series B round led by Energize Ventures. Smartcar's software can be integrated into mobile and web apps from mobility businesses. It allows users to do things like locate and unlock a vehicle, as well as check its mileage, fuel level, and battery if the vehicle is electric. Smartcar's technology is compatible with 22 different vehicle brands in 31 different countries. Smartcar co-founder and CEO Sahas Katta joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
