Yahoo Hears Microsoft's Vision of Merger

[engine]

Senior executives from Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. met Monday to discuss Microsoft's takeover offer for the Internet company, according to people familiar with the matter.

The meeting, the first since Microsoft made its unsolicited offer Jan. 31, marks a breakthrough in communication between the two camps following Yahoo's rejection of Microsoft's offer last month.

Yahoo Hears Microsoft's Vision of Merger [online.wsj.com]

[davec]

Anyone got a version that doesn't require registration?

[ByronM]

Yeah, i'm curious as to whats changing. Perhaps the Crappy Economy (TM) is pushing Yahoo to consider a big cash settlement?

Or possibly the fact that Google is going crazy with acquisitions and even AOL is coming out of the wood work making strategic investments in areas that a MicroHoo could consolidate for a single brand?

[Marcia]

Not much out there without subscription, and even that might not tell much. Here's what Reuters [reuters.com] had to say:

The Journal said the meeting wasn't a negotiation and that no bankers were present.

The session was intended to allow Microsoft to present its vision of a combined company, and Yahoo executives mostly listened, the Journal quoted one of the sources as saying.

Microsoft and Yahoo spokesmen declined to comment.

[mikedee]

I bet it went something like this...

Hello Yahoos
Search
Advertising
Targeting
Synergy
Software as a service
These internets sure are more popular than we imagined!
Kill Google
If you do not accept, Ballmer will break your legs
Thank you for your time

[TinkyWinky]

Yahoo executives mostly listened

LOL.... they better start listening with all the new financial news leaking out abtou Bear Stearns etc....

[swa66]

MSFT's vision: world domination ?

[lexipixel]

I've always thought Yahoo could stand on its own. What do they need Microsoft for? Money?

If I were Yahoo I would;

1). Go strong on YPN, cut everything to the bone and go after Adsense Publishers and Adwords Customers with vengence.

2). Advertise, Advertise, Advertise, (t.v., magazines, everywhere offline to rebuild the brand specifically for "Search"). The catch phrase Do you Yahoo? should be promoted to compete directly with the "I googled [this or that]" vernacular.

3). Make www.Yahoo.com a search box with a few links to the rest of the content and services -- that way the average "searcher" will not have to wait for news, mail, personals, and everything else to load to do a quick search, (ala [search.yahoo.com...] )

4). send me a small check for helping save them from disappearing into oblivion -- or worse, becoming another failed MSFT acquisition.

NOTE TO YAHOO: sticky me for mailing address, thx.

[mcneely]

[msnbc.msn.com...]

and another interesting piece;

[msnbc.msn.com...]