Call us big geeks but we have been enjoying the public but rather courteous skirmish between Microsoft and Yahoo! If you aren’t aware of what is going on I’ll give you a run down on things so far;
January 31 2008
Microsoft bids 44.6 billion($31/share) in a cash and stock bid to acquire Yahoo! Yahoo! calls it "’unsolicited’ but did not reject it."
March 17 2008
Google CEO Eric Schmidt in a ‘going through the motions’ thing ‘calls the bid ‘bad for the internet.’ – duh
March 18 2008
Yahoo! states it’s operating cash flow over the next three years will double from $1.9 billion to $3.7. They also state that Yahoo! will generate $8.8 billion in revenue in 2010. This plan was presented to the Yahoo! board in December a full month and half before Microsoft’s take over bid.
Cut to Early April 2008
Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer sends Yahoo! a letter telling them to take the now $41 billion or expect a hostile take over. Now things are getting a little hotter.
April 9 2008
- Yahoo! stuns some by announcing that it will test run Google’s AdSense in it’s search queries. This will help Yahoo! make money with out really doing anything.
- Yahoo! close to a deal with Time Warner’s AOL
- Microsoft is also in talks with News Corp in combining efforts to take over Yahoo!
So What’s Next?
Will Microsoft win the battle or will Google find a way to buy most of Yahoo! before that happens? One thing we know for sure if Microsoft and News Corp(they own the horrible social network known as MySpace) get there hands on Yahoo! and it’s services like Flickr we may just have to give up the internet entirely. Just kidding but Mr Balmer and Mr Murdoch if you do get your wishes please leave all the cool things about Yahoo! alone.
Yahoo Stock vs Microsoft Stock
This is a snap shot of Yahoo stock vs Microsoft stock over the last 3 months.
For more information please contact the Search Engine Marketing Team at Schipul – sem@schipul.com