Microsoft Rips Google Over Ad Service Bid

A Senate antitrust panel heard testimony today on Google's proposed takeover of internet ad broker DoubleClick, the Wall Street Journal reports, including a not-so-friendly broadside from Microsoft, a snubbed DoubleClick suitor. Google's chief legal officer said the $3.1 billion deal wouldn't create an internet advertising monolith, as the companies are complementary businesses. Not so, said Microsoft.

"DoubleClick is to Google what FedEx or UPS is to Amazon.com," the Google official said. The reply from Microsoft, runner-up in the pursuit of DoubleClick: "Google is already Amazon and is already Fed Ex and now they are trying to buy the post office." No senator expressed opposition to the deal, whose fate lies with the Federal Trade Commission anyway. (More Internet advertising stories.)