The social media network with the deep pockets, Facebook, seems to be on a buying spree. Last month, Facebook bought the mobile messaging service, WhatsApp,for $19 billion. There’s now a lot of chatter on the Internet about Facebook negotiating to buy New Mexico-based, Titan Aerospace, for $60 million, according to TechCrunch.
Titan Aerospace produces solar-powered drones, which can stay up in the air for up to five years without needing to land or refuel. Facebook reportedly is looking at making these drones the work horses for Internet.org — the partnership with the reported goal of bringing “affordable Internet to the two-thirds of the world’s population that doesn’t have it” — as stated on the website. We’re talking about providing Internet connection to around 5 billion people.
Apparently, Facebook intends is to build 11,000 of these drones and use them as communications satellites in parts of the globe without Internet access. Also, cellphones are getting cheaper and cheaper, but that’s not the case for data. TechCrunch says “… Titan drones could help Facebook fix that.” More on the drones and the deal here.
