MSFT to buy Yahoo to buy eBay?

[Mike]

Microsoft is buying Yahoo, and both companies are intent on buying eBay. At least that's the latest rumor to ricochet through Silicon Valley.

In a blog post, URL edited.com reports that officials at Microsoft are mulling over the idea of making their informal offer to buy Yahoo from last year a real possibility in 2008.

While Microsoft has long been rumored to be interested in Yahoo, few view the deal as sensible. Although Yahoo may give Microsoft greater access to the world of online advertising – and help stop Google's advance – the deal may simply be too big to pay immediate dividends.

Microsoft and Yahoo were last linked as potential mates in September, but nothing came of those rumors.

In a blog post at eBay Strategies, there's a rumor that both Yahoo and Microsoft are interested in the online auction site. Although that post is based on information from sources close to the deal, the source doesn't see that deal making much sense.

From an email: http://www.imediaconnection.com/news/18005.asp

****

My 2 cents. It would be great to see MSFT and Yahoo to merge and eventually pick up eBay. Someone HAS to stop Google from their insane growth and monopolistic SE dominance.
The unfortunate downside. Even if MSFT and Yahoo merge, they'd still not reach the search engine % of Google.

M.

 

[RickM]

IMHO I would rather keep Googles so called dominance over Microsofts. Based on the history of Microsoft it would not be good to have them in control once again. ESPECIALLY over the internet.

Google are able to control their dominance, I've never felt like Google are forceful or try to use some of the nasty methods that Microsoft use to get you to use their services. Google are big because people love using it, period. Microsoft are hated because they are a company that only cares about its stockholders.

I cant see Microsoft getting hold of eBay...I just cant see it. If they did I would assume they would own PayPal too. Microsoft + handling millions of transactions....I don't think so!

(In Short: Boo to M$!) :p

 

[Mobi Cheap]

From a purely domaining viewpoint, IMHO a merger is most likely to be short term good, long term bad.

But there are so many factors to consider that it's difficult to be sure about the broader impact.

One key unknown IMHO: will Microsoft's culture dominate the merged entity, or will Yahoo make a major impact in terms of corporate ethos.

 

[nicholas]

They've been talking about this so much it's almost a pain to see rumor upon rumor keep falling short. Google's continuing advance will only keep hurting Yahoo! since Google dominates the user's mind as to who is no. 1, and no amount of action from Yahoo will change that in the short term. They need to sell, imho, because even if Google doesn't kill them, they'll eventually be grossly marginalized. This is what has been happening in the past many months already, whether they see it or not.

Microsoft needs them too, and there are bazillion reasons why they cannot and should not merge, but the truth of the matter is, Microsoft itself is also the underdog here when it comes to the power Google projects on the Internet. Even if they merge, it won't make a big dent on Google, but if they don't they'll only continue to see their mindshare to consumers eroding, regardless of whether MS is making boatloads of money at the moment.

 

[.tv]

Here is the list of Google's Acquisitions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google_acquisitions

Who knows, at one time Microsoft, Yahoo! and other leading companies will become Goooooogle..... :hehe:

 

[shockie]

i actually don't mind google where it's at about now (65-70% of searches in the US ), but would start to get worried if they get over the 80% mark. i don't believe any one company should have that much of the market. i also don't mind having yahoo separate from microsoft, especially if this keeps their combined share of searches higher.

 

[gemwol]

Google are starting to make mistakes. They have to grow revenue year on year and search is where the real easy money is. They are starting to tamper too much with the search results by adding stuff to the search results that is too distracting to the user.

It will be very hard for them to grow without further compromising the very simplicity that drove users to google in the first place, leaving the market open to a new entrant that knows how to keep search simple. I don't think it will be yahoo or msft that will do this, they are already too large.

 

[1901gt]

MSFT and Yahoo to merge? No way. MSFT is crap. Probably it will only contribute to Yahoo downfall.

 

[ezimedia]

HI

I wonder if this could have something to do with Bill Leaving MS.. and he will try to take on the Big G...

If he Buys Yahoo and puts MSN and Yahoo together I think if he is behind it he could give G a run for their money...

Thanks
Tom Dahne

 

[mwzd]

msn+yahoo+ebay+pp << G !!!

msn never had much standing aside from hotmail... which G neutralized with Gmail.

Yahoo is a great site / brand - it'll not do very well with msft... however, they're in the same boat... trying to make money off what made them what they are - site submissions.

ebay - is more fraud than business, except for a few niches. pp is a scam... keep the money in the system and keep charging fees on existing funds.

I somehow don't see all of them combined making any kind of dent in G... and with a merger / buyout of this scale - I'll believe it when it happens.

 

[TheBulldog]

Why the hell would M want ebay? The only reason would be the transactions and fees from paypal, but the upfront cost that ebay would demand./.....the payoff would probably be so far down the road that it wouldn't be worth it.

 

[.X.]

Although i would love to see Google dethroned , This isn't the way i would like to see it. MS buying Yahoo, would shake up the domain name parking industry, for those companies who use Yahoo syndication, Imo

The buy out of Ebay probably wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

[PowerUp]

.... Google are big because people love using it, period. Microsoft are hated .....

(In Short: Boo to M$!) :p

Your avatar sums it up nicely for you eh?
:hehe:

 

[kemjika11]

i actually don't mind google where it's at about now (65-70% of searches in the US ), but would start to get worried if they get over the 80% mark. i don't believe any one company should have that much of the market. i also don't mind having yahoo separate from microsoft, especially if this keeps their combined share of searches higher.

i totally agree. A monopoly is a monopoly, and most monopolies are bad news. i love google alot, but their infinite expansion makes them just look like they are walmarting the internet.

 

[Shane]

I hate Microsoft, I would love for Google to buy Yahoo as long as they dont make Yahoo Mail to be Gmail.

 

[Sleepys]

There is no way the government would allow Microsoft to buy Ebay. Ebay already has a monopoly on online auctions that they abuse by forcing people to use Paypal. I think it is more likely that the government forces ebay and paypal to split up than allow a merger between ebay and Microsoft.

 

[Mobi Cheap]

I hate Microsoft, I would love for Google to buy Yahoo as long as they dont make Yahoo Mail to be Gmail.

And they keep the Yahoo parking feed separate of course

And... never mind, it probably won't be allowed to happen anyway.

 

[Mobi Cheap]

Scary stuff...

OK, just when I was warming to the idea that reinforcing Microsoft can be a good thing:

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3193480.ece

"Microsoft submitted a patent application in the US for a “unique monitoring system” that could link workers to their computers. Wireless sensors could read “heart rate, galvanic skin response, EMG, brain signals, respiration rate, body temperature, movement facial movements, facial expressions and blood pressure”, the application states.

The system could also “automatically detect frustration or stress in the user” and “offer and provide assistance accordingly”. Physical changes to an employee would be matched to an individual psychological profile based on a worker’s weight, age and health. If the system picked up an increase in heart rate or facial expressions suggestive of stress or frustration, it would tell management that he needed help."
:ghost:

 

[Mike]

OK, just when I was warming to the idea that reinforcing Microsoft can be a good thing:

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3193480.ece

"Microsoft submitted a patent application in the US for a “unique monitoring system” that could link workers to their computers. Wireless sensors could read “heart rate, galvanic skin response, EMG, brain signals, respiration rate, body temperature, movement facial movements, facial expressions and blood pressure”, the application states.

The system could also “automatically detect frustration or stress in the user” and “offer and provide assistance accordingly”. Physical changes to an employee would be matched to an individual psychological profile based on a worker’s weight, age and health. If the system picked up an increase in heart rate or facial expressions suggestive of stress or frustration, it would tell management that he needed help."
:ghost:

Yes! Star Treck we're coming! This would NEVER pass through labor laws, unions and privacy committees. If so, we might as well all start sheep herding somewhere in the mountains and get away from what's going to be knows as civilization. If it passes, companies that distance themselves from this type of monitoring and effectively advertise it, will have more applicants for their positions - i'm reasonably sure of that.

M.

 

[shaelheart]

Microsoft should forget acquiring Yahoo and should just focus on improving its Windows Vista.