Microsoft are the real losers here
Lots of discussion on Yahoo as the poor man here, and how they have sufferred in the takeover war.
Scobleizer — Tech geek blogger » Blog Archive How will Yahoo heal after Microsoft walked away? «
Yahoo is a bleeding animal. Left lying, gasping for its breath, after a larger animal (Microsoft) struck and then walked away after it proved too difficult to eat. (That was just announced a few minutes ago).
I listened in on the Gillmor Gang teleconference just now. General takes were:
- Google is the winner
- Yahoo is the loser, and displayed desperation, by aligning with Google in the fight. Suggested they were playing from a position of weakness
- little discussion on Microsoft as loser or winner. in fact little mention of Microsoft
My take … Microsoft are the real losers here. They needed Yahoo in order to internetise themselves. Back in 1995 Microsoft made that ill fated strategic blunder to bet on MSN to beat the internet, and had to back off from that position shortly afterwards. Microsoft have a history of not ‘getting’ internet, and they needed Yahoo or something similar. It didn’t happen, and there are not similar sized plays left.
Watch for Microsoft to make a host of smaller acquisitions in an attempt to make up lost ground as an internet company.
Filed under: Microsoft
Although I won’t attempt to get into a silly argument on whether Microsoft “gets the Internet” it might be worth noting that the MSN Portal is the 3rd or 4th most heavily trafficed portal in the world. And that Microsoft software runs a significant chunk of the Internet. And that Microsoft Windows PC’s and mobile devices are the devices that most people in the world use to access the Internet. And that Microsoft web mail and IM are among the most popular in the world. The list goes on.
@Mark …. of course you are right with the stats. I just wish those users could experience a better experience.