Following several reports that the two were in talks, Google has reportedly reached a deal to acquire streaming video giant Twitch for approximately $1 billion. With more than 50 million monthly active users, Twitch is a wildly popular service that allows gamers to stream live video of themselves as well as live feeds of whatever video games they might be playing. Venturebeat reports that Google’s YouTube division is in charge of the deal and will presumably oversee Twitch in some capacity moving forward. Google has not yet confirmed the acquisition.

Zach Epstein has worked in and around ICT for more than 15 years, first in marketing and business development with two private telcos, then as a writer and editor covering business news, consumer electronics and telecommunications. Zach’s work has been quoted by countless top news publications in the US and around the world. He was also recently named one of the world's top-10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes, as well as one of Inc. Magazine's top-30 Internet of Things experts.