Oyster is a digital ebook subscription service that operates much like Netflix. If you think that’s a cool idea, you’ll have to try an alternative—like Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program—because Oyster is closing shop. Many of the company’s top execs are headed over to Google Play Books, where they could very well help Google launch its own ebook subscription service:
Google is resistant to the notion that it bought Oyster. But sources said it will end up paying investors, who put a reported $17 million into the company, for the right to hire some of its staff. In other words, this is an acquire.