I have to view the BlueFin labs acquisition as the hallmark of days to come. "build apps on our data!" cried the spider to the fly. It's all becoming maddeningly predictable.

1) build a platform

2) get devs to use your platforms data

3) capriciously threaten to cut off access to drive a sale.

There's something basically malicious about building businesses like this. Companies used to pay for innovation, now they're able to simply choke it out.

The key in getting a big acquisition is multiple suitors. If you've only got one company chasing you, you are at their mercy. It's an unenviable position.