Microsoft Wants Yahoo

Microsoft and Yahoo May Not Be Enough to Fell Google

NPR  |  Feb 3, 08 5:30 PM CST

(Newser) - A Microsoft/Yahoo combination would pose a greater challenge to Google, but it's not at all clear the search engine behemoth would be greatly affected, NPR reports. Google owns about 60% of the search market—three times that of Microsoft and Yahoo combined. And, perhaps more to the point, it is a household word. "Google has become a verb," notes one analyst. More »

Google for Barack, Microsoft for Hillary

Reuters  |  Feb 2, 08 5:00 PM CST

(Newser) - Barack Obama leads presidential hopefuls in Silicon Valley donations, but Hillary is tops among Microsoft employees, Reuters reports. Residents of the valley that Google, Yahoo, and Apple call home are interested in change, one analyst said: "It is absolutely the case that Obama is seen as different, and therefore appealing to Silicon Valley." Computer-industry workers have sent $940,459 to Obama, compared to $883,125 for HIllary. More »

Microsoft-Yahoo Draws Huzzahs From Analysts

Silicon Alley Insider  |  Feb 1, 08 2:46 PM CST

(Newser) - First reaction to Microsoft's bid to buy Yahoo for $44 billion has been generally positive, especially among Wall Street analysts. Silicon Alley Insider's Henry Blodget, an ex-analyst, quotes several who predict regulators and shareholders will have no problems with the deal. Meanwhile, New York Times blogger Steven M. Davidoff says the timing favors a hostile takeover if Yahoo's board resists. More »

Microsoft Makes $44.6B Bid to Buy Yahoo

Wall Street Journal  |  Feb 1, 08 6:00 AM CST

(Newser) - Microsoft has made a $44.6-billion offer  to buy struggling  search engine giant Yahoo. The  merger would help both companies compete against rival Google in the hotly contested on-line advertising market. The $31-a-share offer is a 62% premium on Yahoo's share price as of last night. Earlier this week Yahoo cut 1,000 jobs, its biggest since the dot-com crash. More »

1,000 to Lose Jobs as Yahoo Profits Fall 23%

Wall Street Journal  |  Jan 30, 08 3:25 AM CST

(Newser) - After a 23% plummet in fourth quarter profits, Yahoo's CEO said the company will face job cuts and continued "headwinds" in 2008, the Wall Street Journal reports. Facing decreased advertiser spending, the company will lay off 1,000 employees next month, though it will try to relocate some within Yahoo. Such bleak expectations prompted a 10% drop in shares after hours. More »

Google Sours on 'Domain Tasters'

Associated Press  |  Jan 26, 08 10:23 AM CST

(Newser) - Google aims to stop entrepreneurs from "domain name tasting," the AP reports. The practice exploits a 5-day grace period during which registrants can return a domain for a full refund; meantime, the buyer puts up ads and evaluates whether the site would bring in enough revenue to keep it—the equivalent of intending to return a gown after wearing it once. More »

Yahoo to Slash Jobs in Shakeup

New York Times  |  Jan 22, 08 4:14 AM CST

(Newser) - Yahoo! is preparing for its first big round of layoffs since the 2001 dot.com bust, the New York Times reports, seeking to narrow its focus, increase profitability, and revive its tumbling share price. A statement from the company said it planned to "eliminate some areas of the business." More »

Tumbling Yahoo Now a Target?

New York Times  |  Jan 11, 08 9:51 PM CST

(Newser) - Yahoo's falling core value threatens the company's future and is ringing alarm bells for investors, the New York Times ’ Saul Hansell warned in his "Bits" blog. The central business of Yahoo.com, excluding subsidiary holdings, is worth less than half of its current share price, and a paltry 7% of Google’s $200 billion market value, according to one analyst quoted by Hansell. More »

Yahoo Trumpets Mobile Access

CNET  |  Jan 8, 08 3:46 PM CST

(Newser) - Yahoo is moving to expand the reach of its services with new software designed for mobile devices, CEO Jerry Yang said yesterday as he vowed to "get Yahoo yodeling again." Dubbed Yahoo Go 3.0, the software aims to provide users with access to the usual weather and news, as well as Yahoo-specific services like Flickr and Yahoo Mail, CNET reports. More »

Wikipedia Founder to Debut Search Engine

Associated Press  |  Jan 3, 08 7:20 AM CST

(Newser) - Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales will open his new project, Wikia Search, next week. Unlike top search giants such as Google and Yahoo, Wikia Search will use open algorithms instead of proprietary search methods. The new engine will also allow users to contribute to—and ideally improve the accuracy of—search results on their own. More »

Yahoo China Loses Piracy Case

Associated Press  |  Dec 21, 07 3:21 PM CST

(Newser) - Yahoo China—40% owned by the US Internet giant—can no longer allow users to download unlicensed music on its Web site. A Chinese court yesterday upheld a decision that the company violated copyright laws in effect since last year. The US has long complained about rampant music and movie piracy in China, and the decision could signal a tougher stance, reports the Wall Street Journal . More »

Yahoo VPs Dropping Like Flies

All Things Digital  |  Dec 14, 07 5:18 PM CST

(Newser) - "This slimming down is a good idea, given Yahoo’s VP obesity," writes Kara Swisher in All Things Digital . She says it's not clear who's behind the departures of numerous execs from the notoriously top-heavy company, nor who jumped and who was pushed out. But a source called the moves "streamlining," and said, "there just have been too many chiefs and not enough Indians.” More »

Microsoft Launches Cell Phone Ad Sales

Associated Press  |  Dec 10, 07 2:21 PM CST

(Newser) - Microsoft launched cell phone advertising in the US Monday, with banner ads displayed on MSN Mobile, a portal accessible from any mobile phone. The ads will be displayed as graphics or text, depending on the user's phone, reports AP . Competitors Yahoo, Google, and numerous smaller companies already sell mobile advertising, as does Microsoft in Japan and parts of Europe. More »

Google Keeps Growing, Stock Keeps Rising