Amazon’s recent write-down of most of its $175 million investment in LivingSocial might seem like a disaster. But it also reflects this interesting fact: LivingSocial is now a cheap buy for Amazon. Even if LivingSocial’s business is struggling, it still has a big opt-in email list, a huge salesforce and relationships with tons of merchants. The issue of sales tax is no longer a hurdle for Amazon acquiring LivingSocial either. And while we’re at it, why can’t Amazon consider buying Groupon, too? Integrating all this into Amazon’s eventual smartphone would turn that mobile device into a very appealing proposition. (Forbes)
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