Hot News! Microsoft Eyes Yahoo to Topple Google - GoFuckYourself.com

Porn Mickey · 02-02-2008, 08:41 AM

Unable to topple Google Inc. on its own, Microsoft Corp. is trying to force crippled rival Yahoo Inc. into a shotgun marriage, with a wager worth nearly $42 billion that the two companies together will have a better chance of tackling the Internet search leader.

Microsoft's audacious attempt to buy Yahoo, spelled out in an unsolicited offer announced Friday, shows just how much Google threatens the world's largest software maker's grip on how people interact with computers.

For Yahoo, the bid represents another painful reminder of how missed opportunities and mismanagement combined to open the door for Google to supplant it as
Other Business Photos
Microsoft Eyes Yahoo to Topple Google
56
the Internet's main gateway, decimating its stock price in the process.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft is trying to avoid a similar fate at Google's hands as more people access services and computer programs online instead of relying on packaged software applications.

Although Microsoft remains the world's most valuable technology company, its position will become more precarious unless it can cultivate a more loyal Internet audience and generate more online ad revenue to subsidize the free services taken for granted on the Internet.

Microsoft is acutely aware of the upheaval that can be caused by a pivotal shift in technology, having been the biggest beneficiary during the 1980s and 1990s of a transition from mainframe computers to personal computers that knocked IBM Corp. off its pedestal.

"Microsoft has to do this deal. It's a battle that Microsoft needs to win," said AMR Research analyst Jonathan Yarmis.

But there's no guarantee that Yahoo will be willing to sell to Microsoft -- or that the deal will win the necessary approvals from antitrust regulators in the United States and Europe if Yahoo capitulates.

Sunnyvale-based Yahoo had little to say Friday beyond a terse statement assuring its shareholders that its board will "carefully and promptly" study the bid.

In a conference call Friday, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer indicated he won't take no for an answer after Yahoo rebuffed takeover overtures a year ago.

"This is a decision we have -- and I have -- thought long and hard about," Ballmer said. "We are confident it's the right path for Microsoft and Yahoo."

Yahoo will likely face intense pressure to accept, given its steadily sliding profits and a murky 2008 outlook that caused its stock price to drop to a four-year low earlier this week.

Microsoft's $31-per-share offer -- originally valued at $44.6 billion -- represented a 62 percent premium to Yahoo's closing price late Thursday, although it's below Yahoo's 52-week high of $34.08 reached less than four months ago. On Friday, the total value of the cash-and-stock deal fell to $41.7 billion, or $28.95 per share, because Microsoft's shares declined on the news.

Microsoft believes its technological expertise will be a good fit with Yahoo's knack for providing content and services that keep people coming back to its site. Combined, the two companies would reach a U.S. online audience of 142 million compared with 124 million for Google, according to Nielsen Online.

But Yahoo and Microsoft are so far behind Google in the lucrative search market that they still will have a lot of ground to make up even if they joined forces.

Google already controls 62 percent of the worldwide search market, and has been widening its lead, according to the latest data from comScore Media Metrix. By combining, Microsoft and Yahoo would have a 16 percent share of the worldwide search market, the Web traffic tracking company said.

Google shares fell $48.40, or 8.6 percent, to close at $515.90 Friday, but the downturn appeared to be driven more by a disappointing fourth-quarter earnings report than by Microsoft's bid for Yahoo.

Besides helping to boost its online ad revenue, Microsoft believes it could mine more profit from Yahoo by jettisoning workers and eliminating overlapping operations.

Microsoft said it sees at least $1 billion in cost savings if it buys Yahoo. Microsoft executives deflected questions about how many jobs might be lost, but the company emphasized retention packages will be offered to Yahoo engineers and other key employees, including some executives.

The fate of Yahoo's brand also is unclear if Microsoft takes over. Both Ballmer and Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft's platforms and services division, hailed Yahoo's strong brand value but did not commit to keeping the name alive.

---------

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE
AP Business Writer Jennifer Malloy in New York and AP Business Writer Jessica Mintz in Seattle contributed to this story.

D Ghost · 02-02-2008, 08:46 AM

Yahoo sucks, so does MSN

Miguel T · 02-02-2008, 08:52 AM

Google rocks!

xmas13 · 02-02-2008, 08:54 AM

200th MSFT/YHOO thread since yesterday.

StuartD · 02-02-2008, 09:03 AM

It's not "hot news" when it's posted a day late and 50+ threads later.
Sorry.

hateman · 02-02-2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuartD

It's not "hot news" when it's posted a day late and 50+ threads later.

Kinda like you did yesterday?

Idiot.

StuartD · 02-02-2008, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hateman

Kinda like you did yesterday?

Idiot.

Yes, exactly the same, except that mine was posted the same day it was released and was only the second thread, and I didn't proclaim it as "hot news".
And my thread got way more replies.

Idiot.

Sosa · 02-02-2008, 09:25 AM

just a little late

SayWhut · 02-02-2008, 09:25 AM

Just another good reason to not use Yahoo.

rowan · 02-02-2008, 09:31 AM

Is anyone else scared by the market share that Google has?

bobby666 · 02-02-2008, 11:29 AM

just seen yesterday on tv....

baddog · 02-02-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deejne

Yahoo sucks, so does MSN

Can't believe you have all that SEO stuff in your sig and saying that.

V_RocKs · 02-02-2008, 12:30 PM

Haha.... yeah... what baddog said x'2!

V_RocKs · 02-02-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deejne

Yahoo sucks, so does MSN

Your sig breaks the rules BTW!

DaddyHalbucks · 02-02-2008, 01:10 PM

Great, more power for Bill Gates.

Horny Dude · 02-02-2008, 01:11 PM

Great now maybe I can get listed in Yahoo since I'm listed all over in MSN.

FreeHugeMovies · 02-02-2008, 01:49 PM

This thread needs a timeline pic.

Porn Mickey · 02-02-2008, 04:26 PM

Eriic · 02-02-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxtreme

What will the kids look like?

or is it for convenience

02-02-2008, 08:41 AM	#1
Porn Mickey we all love porn Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Nowhere Posts: 2,840	Hot News! Microsoft Eyes Yahoo to Topple Google Unable to topple Google Inc. on its own, Microsoft Corp. is trying to force crippled rival Yahoo Inc. into a shotgun marriage, with a wager worth nearly $42 billion that the two companies together will have a better chance of tackling the Internet search leader. Microsoft's audacious attempt to buy Yahoo, spelled out in an unsolicited offer announced Friday, shows just how much Google threatens the world's largest software maker's grip on how people interact with computers. For Yahoo, the bid represents another painful reminder of how missed opportunities and mismanagement combined to open the door for Google to supplant it as Other Business Photos Microsoft Eyes Yahoo to Topple Google 56 the Internet's main gateway, decimating its stock price in the process. Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft is trying to avoid a similar fate at Google's hands as more people access services and computer programs online instead of relying on packaged software applications. Although Microsoft remains the world's most valuable technology company, its position will become more precarious unless it can cultivate a more loyal Internet audience and generate more online ad revenue to subsidize the free services taken for granted on the Internet. Microsoft is acutely aware of the upheaval that can be caused by a pivotal shift in technology, having been the biggest beneficiary during the 1980s and 1990s of a transition from mainframe computers to personal computers that knocked IBM Corp. off its pedestal. "Microsoft has to do this deal. It's a battle that Microsoft needs to win," said AMR Research analyst Jonathan Yarmis. But there's no guarantee that Yahoo will be willing to sell to Microsoft -- or that the deal will win the necessary approvals from antitrust regulators in the United States and Europe if Yahoo capitulates. Sunnyvale-based Yahoo had little to say Friday beyond a terse statement assuring its shareholders that its board will "carefully and promptly" study the bid. In a conference call Friday, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer indicated he won't take no for an answer after Yahoo rebuffed takeover overtures a year ago. "This is a decision we have -- and I have -- thought long and hard about," Ballmer said. "We are confident it's the right path for Microsoft and Yahoo." Yahoo will likely face intense pressure to accept, given its steadily sliding profits and a murky 2008 outlook that caused its stock price to drop to a four-year low earlier this week. Microsoft's $31-per-share offer -- originally valued at $44.6 billion -- represented a 62 percent premium to Yahoo's closing price late Thursday, although it's below Yahoo's 52-week high of $34.08 reached less than four months ago. On Friday, the total value of the cash-and-stock deal fell to $41.7 billion, or $28.95 per share, because Microsoft's shares declined on the news. Microsoft believes its technological expertise will be a good fit with Yahoo's knack for providing content and services that keep people coming back to its site. Combined, the two companies would reach a U.S. online audience of 142 million compared with 124 million for Google, according to Nielsen Online. But Yahoo and Microsoft are so far behind Google in the lucrative search market that they still will have a lot of ground to make up even if they joined forces. Google already controls 62 percent of the worldwide search market, and has been widening its lead, according to the latest data from comScore Media Metrix. By combining, Microsoft and Yahoo would have a 16 percent share of the worldwide search market, the Web traffic tracking company said. Google shares fell $48.40, or 8.6 percent, to close at $515.90 Friday, but the downturn appeared to be driven more by a disappointing fourth-quarter earnings report than by Microsoft's bid for Yahoo. Besides helping to boost its online ad revenue, Microsoft believes it could mine more profit from Yahoo by jettisoning workers and eliminating overlapping operations. Microsoft said it sees at least $1 billion in cost savings if it buys Yahoo. Microsoft executives deflected questions about how many jobs might be lost, but the company emphasized retention packages will be offered to Yahoo engineers and other key employees, including some executives. The fate of Yahoo's brand also is unclear if Microsoft takes over. Both Ballmer and Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft's platforms and services division, hailed Yahoo's strong brand value but did not commit to keeping the name alive. --------- By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Business Writer Jennifer Malloy in New York and AP Business Writer Jessica Mintz in Seattle contributed to this story. __________________ $150 SignUp Bonus

02-02-2008, 08:52 AM	#3
Miguel T ♦ Web Developer ♦ Industry Role: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Full-Stack Developer Posts: 12,472	Google rocks! __________________ Full Stack Webdeveloper: HTML5/CSS3, jQuery, AJAX, ElevatedX, NATS, MechBunny, Wordpress

02-02-2008, 09:03 AM	#5
StuartD Sofa King Band Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Outside the box Posts: 29,903	It's not "hot news" when it's posted a day late and 50+ threads later. Sorry. __________________ This is me on facebook This is me on twitter

02-02-2008, 11:29 AM	#11
bobby666 boots are my religion Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Heart of europe Posts: 21,765	just seen yesterday on tv.... __________________

02-02-2008, 01:10 PM	#15
DaddyHalbucks A freakin' legend! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada USA Posts: 18,975	Great, more power for Bill Gates. __________________ Boner Money

02-02-2008, 08:46 AM	#2
D Ghost null Industry Role: Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 9,820	Yahoo sucks, so does MSN

02-02-2008, 08:54 AM	#4
xmas13 Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: GFY Posts: 5,176	200th MSFT/YHOO thread since yesterday.

02-02-2008, 09:25 AM	#8
Sosa In Tushy Land Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Nebraska Posts: 40,149	just a little late

02-02-2008, 09:25 AM	#9
SayWhut Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: United Blingdom Posts: 962	Just another good reason to not use Yahoo.

02-02-2008, 09:31 AM	#10
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	Is anyone else scared by the market share that Google has?

02-02-2008, 12:30 PM	#13
V_RocKs Damn Right I Kiss Ass! Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cowtown, USA Posts: 32,409	Haha.... yeah... what baddog said x'2!

02-02-2008, 01:11 PM	#16
Horny Dude Earn enough to buy coffee Industry Role: Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Diego, Ca. Posts: 4,912	Great now maybe I can get listed in Yahoo since I'm listed all over in MSN. __________________

02-02-2008, 01:49 PM	#17
FreeHugeMovies Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 14,137	This thread needs a timeline pic.

02-02-2008, 04:26 PM	#18
Porn Mickey we all love porn Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Nowhere Posts: 2,840	__________________ $150 SignUp Bonus