While speaking in Moscow, Microsoft CEO and Yahoo suitor Steve Ballmer said, "Yahoo was never the strategy we were pursuing, it was a way to accelerate our online advertising business... We will spend money on some acquisitions. You can do a whole lot of things with $50 billion."
In these eBay days, buyer's remorse is increasingly common. Less common is the remorse of the unbought a sensation now widely reported among major Yahoo shareholders in the wake of Ballmer's retreat.
Microsoft went public on Friday with a US$44.6 billion cash-and-stock bid to acquire Yahoo.
Microsoft's US$44.6bn bid to buy Yahoo could backfire if not executed properly, according to analysts -- but the phenomenal price may be worth paying to fend off the challenge from Google.
Yahoo announced a non-exclusive partnership under which rival Google will supply it with some search ads, a move that could increase Yahoo search revenue but that also gives Google even more power in the market.
Nobody, least of all Yahoo and Google, doubted that the two companies' search-advertising deal would escape any antitrust scrutiny.
On Saturday, Microsoft formally withdrew its offer to acquire the search pioneer, at least for now. So what happens next for Yahoo? A deal with Google looks likely.
By now, the regulatory, cultural, practical and financial problems in Microsoft's Yahoo acquisition have been well aired. Let's skip forward to 2009, when they've all been solved and Yahoo is now a Microsoft brand.
We take you through 50 defining moments of the internet.
A tie-up with Saleforce.com sees Google pushing even further into Microsoft's businesss applications territory
Hoping to get a jump on Google and other competitors, Adobe Systems plans to release a hosted version of its popular Photoshop image-editing application within six months, the company's chief executive said.
Windows Vista Business is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.
Web portal MSN is testing a new search service that touts faster, tidier results, in what is the latest development in a fast-moving contest to help people find what they're looking for online.
If you're thinking about voice over IP, we take a look at the steps involved in getting it set up and what's on offer from four major vendors.
Apple Computer has unveiled its latest line of digital music products, including a long-awaited Internet music store and ultrathin versions of its popular iPod portable MP3 player.
Visa CIO touts new transaction technologies
Michael Dreyer, CIO of Visa, expresses what innovation means to him in different areas, such as their PayWave … Watch it now
Industry-leading performance and availability by HP and Intel
Driving Business Growth Through Enterprise IT Management
Australian Govt funds IT start-ups
Google should come clean on datacentres
US shows what OPEL could have been
Achieve continuous availability with high performance NonStop blade technology
Download Your Microsoft Unified Communications Fact Pack now.
Microsoft Unified Communications - Take your Self Assessment Today.
Broadband speedtest
How fast is your Internet connection?
Calculate the speed here.
Superguide: Printers -- all you need to know
Looking to buy a printer? Our superguide rates the latest printers and shines a light into the industry.
Click here for more.
Storage and server superguide
Over the last decade the art of maintaining the datacentre of a large organisation has evolved into an art form.
Click here for more.
