Microsoft Eyes Google Takeover

[karatekid]

Drudge Report is getting ready to break the story. He's got a headline up with no link. Standard Drudge tease.

[Imaster]

This should be big news! Where exactly is this news on that site?

[added]ok, just saw[/added]

[edited by: Imaster at 3:21 am (utc) on Oct. 31, 2003]

[1milehgh80210]

I can see a new thread length record.
It'll beat earlier this year, when google got all 'funky' lol.

[dcheney]

Of course, Google-Micro$oft rumors are hardly new!

[robertclough]

[nytimes.com...]

Snippet:
According to company executives and others briefed on the discussions, Microsoft - desperate to capture a slice of the popular and ad-generating search business - approached Google within the last two months to discuss the possibility of a takeover.

[mcavic]

approached Google within the last two months to discuss the possibility of a takeover.

I can imagine how long that discussion lasted...

[martinibuster]

I think there was an earlier report that MS approached G at the beginning of the year. I remember posting a quote from G's CEO about this in the backroom sometime ago, like July.

[satanclaus]

That news is probably being "drudged" up again as a result of all the IPO talk

[atadams]

If you can't beat 'em, assimilate.

[SevanB2]

another story posted on MSNBC [msnbc.com] today.

[proton]

Google takeover odds: slim. The Googlies value their independence too much.

LookSmart takeover odds: much better. MSN's pulling the plug on Looksmart greatly reduces the value of LookSmart, making it a more attractive buy. Gates isn't a dummy, and his past business practices prove he's willing to apply some ruthless leverage to get what he wants.

[martinibuster]

LookSmart takeover odds: much better.

Not too sure. MS just hired away Overture's Chief Technology Officer. Appears like MSN is going to build PPC in-house.

[rfgdxm1]

>Google takeover odds: slim. The Googlies value their independence too much.

Baloney. It isn't the Google employees that are relevant. It is those who own Google. They will be independent. Independently rich from the money Microsoft pays them.

They are Microsoft. Resistance is futile. Those at the Googleplex should prepare to become assimilated into the collective.

[amznVibe]

Is this not the best cartoon to describe whats really going on? ;)
[economist.com...]

Check out the subtle images of overweight microsoft and yahoo... you think they drew them like that on purpose?

(full article [economist.com] to go with that image if you are interested)

[pleeker]

Check out the subtle images of overweight microsoft and yahoo... you think they drew them like that on purpose?

Yep, and I'm not sure I'd use the word 'subtle' to describe it. :) Great cartoon, thanks for the link.

[Interent Yogi]

I hope not [guardian.co.uk...]

[Marcia]

Point of interest in the CNN article

Microsoft Courting Google [money.cnn.com]

Microsoft Corp., seeking a foothold in the Internet search business, approached Google within the last two months to discuss a partnership or even a merger, according to a published report Friday.

Apparently Google is prospecting for investment bankers to take them public, and it doesn't look like MSN's projected search is all that close in the future.

A partnership would be interesting, with MSN using Google search and Adwords. There would likely be a heftier slice of cash for MSN with Adwords than there's probably been with LS.

[plasma]

What will change?

- Googlebar only for MS & IE?
- Higher Rankings for IIS
- banning of sites discussing about MS security leaks

Seems like we have to look for alternatives.

Goog Bye Google
Welcome AllTheWeb

P.S.: HAPPY HALLOWEEN (top this, google) [goatse.youknow...]

[killroy]

Also, about hte cartoon, note how the overweight prevents them from jumping high enough to catch some of those colourfull zeroes.

SN