SearchCap: The Day In Search, July 10, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Topic: Steve Ballmer
Search Biz: Icahn-Microsoft Cuddle Up, Yahoo Discussing AOL Deal, Google Coming Down To Earth?
There’s that moment in almost any thriller, action, or horror film when you’re supposed to think everything is resolved, but the bad guy, monster, or adversarial force makes a final appearance, startling the hero and the audience. I’m not implying anything about any of the involved parties in particular, but it appears we’re in that […]
Search Biz: Fear On Madison Avenue, Google Now A “Froe,” Microsoft’s Avenue A Says GooHoo “Good News For Advertisers,” & Yahoo Planning To Double Headcount In India
In a bit of irony, Microsoft-owned Avenue A/Razorfish’s search VP Matt Greitzer said that the recently announced Google-Yahoo paid search pact “is going to be good news for advertisers.” Greitzer subsequently qualified (or might have been asked to qualify) his early enthusiasm for the deal by suggesting that it could result in higher prices for […]
Yahoo The Failure: Myth Versus Reality
As SS Yahoo appears to be sinking, let me be the contrarian about her future. I admit, I find it as hard to believe as anyone that Yahoo has much life left in it after all the executive departures this week, plus the latest news of Delicious founder Joshua Schacter going. But since Yahoo’s leadership […]
Yahoo’s Google & Microsoft Deals, Side-By-Side
I was off most of Friday when the Google-Yahoo deal was announced — and then details of Microsoft’s last proposal to Yahoo also came out. Today was catch-up, and I wanted to put the deals next to each other in chart form. Google-Yahoo doesn’t seem as bad as some are making out. I may do a longer post on all […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, June 12, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Search Biz: Yahoo-Microsoft Talks Over! Google CEO Downplays iPhone Conflict, Says Google Has No “Evilmeter,” & The Argument Against MSFT CEO Steve Ballmer
Today’s Search Biz is a nearly all Google column. Barry wrote about departures at Yahoo and Ask, which were originally part of today’s roundup. So today’s column is mostly culled from a series of interviews in which Google CEO Eric Schmidt opines about a range of topics, from Android-iPhone competition to whether Google has become […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, June 9, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer Discusses The Future Of Media, The Company’s Strategy, And Expresses Mystification Over What Google’s Doing In Mobile
“We didn’t get to paid search first, and it turns out that’s the best part of the market,” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told Washington Post Editors as part of a meeting that explored a range of topics. Among other things, Ballmer discussed Microsoft’s strategy and mission statement, why it aspires to be competitive in search, […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 28, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 20, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Icahn To Make Yahoo Move; Google Worries Yahoo Will Learn From Ad Deal
More rumors about yesterday’s news that Carl Icahn may want to take control of Yahoo. He apparently plans to nominate 10 directors to replace Yahoo’s board later today, reports the Wall Street Journal, using an unnamed source. But Microsoft might no longer be interested in Yahoo. Plus, that Google-Yahoo ad deal? Turns out Google might be nervous that Yahoo might […]
Can Icahn Or Microsoft Stop Google’s “Natural Monopoly”
Reports are that Carl Icahn has acquired about 3 percent of Yahoo’s shares, apparently in hopes of taking over the company. And then? Well, you know — maybe go back to Microsoft. Except Microsoft may no longer want to talk, plus that poison pill of a Google-Yahoo ad deal still lurks out there. More below, […]
Google Executives Defend Potential Yahoo Search Deal, Microsoft Releases “Proxy Directors” And Looks Beyond Search And “The Last Click”
Yesterday before Google’s annual meeting of shareholders, Google CEO Eric Schmidt and co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page fielded questions from reporters on a range of subjects, including a potential paid search deal with Yahoo and its anti-trust implications. Their argument was that a future paid search deal could be set up in a way […]
Aftermath: Yahoo Still Open To Deals; Stock Largely Survives
With the first day over since Microsoft bailed on Yahoo, I find myself chuckling with agreement over Valleywag’s "Post-Microsoft, Yahoo shares ‘plunge’ from $19 to $24.60" headline. Yahoo fared far better than many had predicted. Part of that may be due to thoughts that it is not all over yet for a Yahoo-Microsoft marriage or […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 5, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web
Abandoning The Yahoo Deal: Microsoft’s $5 Billion Mistake?
If Microsoft’s walkaway from the Yahoo deal is indeed a ploy to save $5 billion, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer may have proven himself pennywise and pound foolish. He was prepared to spend billions to finally make Microsoft a serious rival to Google. For a bit more, he may have destroyed Microsoft’s chance to get there. Despite what I’m about […]
Microsoft Yanks Its Offer For Yahoo
Microsoft has decided to withdraw its offer for Yahoo and not pursue a hostile takeover bid, according to a letter from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, just released: “Clearly a deal is not to be.” This marks an amazing turn in the MicroHoo drama. When the acquisition bid was first announced in February, it was discussed […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 2, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web
WSJ: Yahoo Poised To Announce Google Ads Deal; Ballmer Says Microsoft Could Go It Alone
According to the Wall Street Journal, Yahoo is ready to formally announce a deal to incorporate Google AdWords into its search results — potentially within a week. The deal could be part of a larger “open” system in which Yahoo serves the most lucrative ad in search results from its own platform, AdWords, or potentially […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 1, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web
SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 29, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web
SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 28, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web
Stay Tuned: Will Microsoft Sweeten The Deal?
The NY Post is reporting that despite public statements from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and CFO Chris Liddell, the offer on the table is final and that though Microsoft might “walk away” from Yahoo, there may in fact be a new and improved offer to Jerry Yang and his fellow Yahoo board members through “back […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 24, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web
MicroHoo: Let The Proxy Fight Begin!
The Seattle PI is suggesting that the fight for control of Yahoo’s board, which Microsoft had previously threatened, may begin in earnest this weekend. Conversations with institutional shareholders have already been taking place. The three week deadline set by Steve Ballmer for Yahoo to come to the table will expire this weekend; hence the Seattle […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 23, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
MicroHoo: High Stakes Game Of “Chicken” Now In Progress
Yahoo’s generally solid quarter yesterday helps make the case that the company is worth more than the current value of Microsoft’s bid. In advance of the earnings call yesterday, however, Steve Ballmer said that the company was not prepared to offer any more than what it already had put on the table. Now today, in […]
All Eyes On Yahoo Earnings Today
Today after the stock market closes, Yahoo will report earnings. Silicon Alley Insider offers a preview based on sources cited in the NY Post: “Several sources close to Yahoo! said the company will not blow the lid off earnings, but will likely beat analysts’ expectations of 9 cents a share and revenue estimates, excluding traffic […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 21, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Microsoft – Three Weeks Or Else!
Since Microsoft offered to buy Yahoo! for $44.6 billion, interesting times have been ours to enjoy here in the land of the search engines. On April 5 2008, Steve Ballmer stepped up the game by giving Yahoo! 3 weeks to make a decision on the 44.6 billion dollar offer or they’ll bypass the board and […]
GooHoo Search Ads Outsourcing Deal Moves Forward
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the “initial test” of running Google ads on Yahoo search results had “positive results” and is thus moving forward. A range of blog posts offers speculation and cynicism about the story and what it may or may not represent for the potential MicroHoo deal. The original test was […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 8, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 7, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Yahoo To Microsoft: We’re Not Opposed To Your Deal, Just Pay More
On Saturday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer sent a public ultimatum of sorts to Yahoo’s board: accept our offer or we’ll force it on you. Today Yahoo responded publicly to Ballmer’s letter. In essence it says: we’re “not opposed to a transaction” but pay us more.
Report: Microsoft “Re-evaluating” Yahoo Bid
Reuters is reporting that Microsoft may be reconsidering its bid for Yahoo in light of changed market conditions and signs of potential weakness in Yahoo’s “core business.” The article cites as sources the familiar unnamed “people familiar with the matter.” There are few details and nobody from either company comments.
Search Biz: Google Stock Hits New Low; News Corp Says No On Yahoo
Today in Search Biz: News Corp isn’t throwing Yahoo a life preserver to fend off Microsoft. Ask loses a (small) paid search partner and gets competition for those women it now says it’s not really that focused on (sort of). Google’s stock hits a new low, but will it plunge below $400? Facebook founder Mark […]
Search Engine Billionaires & Yahoo’s Decker Boosts Her Salary
Forbes is out with the latest billionaires list, and Google executives are well represented. Plus, Yahoo president Susan Decker saw a 63-percent increase in her salary, with a 29-percent bonus increase from last year.
SearchCap: The Day In Search, March 7, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Microsoft’s Google Obsession, MicroHoo’s Asian Outlook, And Competing For Digg
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is perhaps showing signs of a mildly unhealthy obsession with rival Google. At Microsoft’s MIX08 online technology conference in Las Vegas yesterday, he told interviewer Guy Kawasaki in a question and answer session that he was going to continue to chase Google in search even if it costs him his “last […]