Yahoo! officially spurns Microsoft's advances

Just in case you misunderstood the news from Yahoo!, they don't want Microsoft's money, help, time, or friendship. Officially. In a somewhat related story, Jerry Yang says he's also not interested in a week-long round of brunching with Steve Ballmer. No word yet on whether he's game for a dinner date and coffee with Sergey Brin.

[Jim @ Feb 11th 2008 10:31AM]

something makes me thing that MS will get what they want. Those Yahoo! shareholders have taken a pummelling and many traders are in now banking on the premium. They will all sell.

[Liam @ Feb 11th 2008 10:31AM]

Yay. I didn't really see what Yahoo offered Microsoft, to be honest.

[JLTate @ Feb 11th 2008 10:42AM]

Marketshare against Google, which is not a bad thing for us as consumers.

[Paul @ Feb 11th 2008 11:11AM]

@JLTate its a bad thing for us consumers because the more competition there is in the market the better. The idea that a company like Microsoft NEEDS to acquire Yahoo to promote more competition is kinda laughable to me.

The more companies we have competing against Microsoft and each other the better in my opinion.

[superfresh @ Feb 11th 2008 12:09PM]

Never liked Yahoo. Too busy. I don't need half the internet on the home page of an internet search.

[Mr.Tech @ Feb 11th 2008 10:33AM]

I am not sure if you guys know about this but Yahoo! has controls of other companies such as Alibaba. If Microsoft was to ever take over Yahoo! They will probably dominate the business online search/threads etc etc... plus Yahoo! has connections to some of the most powerful search engine that Chinese users use. Microsoft is pure evil!

[JLTate @ Feb 11th 2008 10:40AM]

How is Microsoft pure evil?

So what, it's okay for a Yahoo subsidiary to have a stranglehold on the Chinese search market and for Google to have a stranglehold on the US search market, but it's not okay for Microsoft to have anything more than just the tip of its' toe in the water?

For crying out loud, people. Stop with the freaking double standards. Competition is a good thing in ANY market.

[ssuk @ Feb 11th 2008 10:45AM]

Welcome to Engadget, where Microsoft is evil and Apple are angels sent from heaven to strike down the evil, money hungry Microsoft!

Back in the real world, however, no one gives a shit.

[JLTate @ Feb 11th 2008 10:36AM]

Go Microsoft! I bet we're gonna see a hostile takeover soon.

[Anthony @ Feb 11th 2008 10:43AM]

I think I agree. Plus- Microsoft offering nearly 2 times the stock value seems like not only a good deal but an inevitable.

I don't love MS one way or the other, but I don't think anyone except the Gov can block it from happening.

[Le Master @ Feb 11th 2008 10:37AM]

Yeah, fuck competition. What good has it ever done?

[Bob S. @ Feb 11th 2008 10:40AM]

Maybe it was just a diversion so we wouldn't notice this:

Microsoft Agrees to Acquire Danger Inc., Strengthens Mobile Consumer Vision

Damn. The only good smartphone out there and we can all see what's coming.

[Ford Perfect @ Feb 11th 2008 10:42AM]

@Joshua

Correction: Yahoo (board) didn't say that they didn't want Microsoft's money or they are opposed to selling -- they just want more money. There is a difference.

[Don @ Feb 11th 2008 10:49AM]

Yeah... "the Board believes that Microsoft's proposal substantially undervalues Yahoo!" doesn't exactly translate to "they don't want Microsoft's money, help, time, or friendship." Looks like Joshua needs to follow his own links.

[JLTate @ Feb 11th 2008 10:41AM]

@Le Master
My thoughts exactly.

[duffman @ Feb 11th 2008 10:41AM]

I love it when Google wins. Even if Google is trying to take over the world, wouldn't you rather Google than Microsoft?

[BigDaddyM @ Feb 11th 2008 10:45AM]

NO.

All companies act nice when competion is strong.

Look at Aple, as they grow, they become more and more like Microsoft. (Forgetting weiher or not yoou like MS or Apple, buisness is buisness...)
M

[duffman @ Feb 11th 2008 10:50AM]

Google is not going to buy Yahoo!, the EU would never let that happen. Microsoft is more worried about Google taking their money than any other company. Perhaps it will be Google that destroys Microsoft after all and not Linux or Unix.

[tundraboy @ Feb 11th 2008 11:10AM]

My nightnmare scenario is Oracle and that crazy nut guy taking over the world.

[John @ Feb 11th 2008 12:01PM]

I'm pretty sure the EU can't do much other than cry if the Google and Yahoo decided on a merger. The US government would probably have something to say about that, but while the EU might enjoy levying fines on American companies, I don't think they can do much about mergers

[Scott @ Feb 11th 2008 12:44PM]

Uh, except Microsoft has NEVER acted nice. Apple's track record isn't that different.

Google's reputation however is STELLAR.

[Rick @ Feb 11th 2008 1:29PM]

Microsoft fan boys slay me. The rip on M$ isn't that they make better products than everyone and rule the world, it's that they make crap and use their wealth to push it on consumers. Then, when that doesn't work, they buy good companies that do or create what M$ can't absorbing a successful product or service and eliminating the competition.

[tundraboy @ Feb 11th 2008 11:07AM]

Why Microsoft acquiring Yahoo is bad for consumers:

Yahoo will be just another tool for protecting the Windows/Office monopoly. Which means muddling up web standards even more to favor Microsoft.

Why Microsoft acquiring Yahoo is bad for Microsoft:

The cultural organizational divide will be so wide as to be insurmountable. This will be AOL/Time Warner or Daimler Benz/Chrysler all over again. MS shareholders, get ready for a massive haircut. Yahoo shareholders, Santa's paying you a visit. Take the cash but sell the MSFT stock as soon as it lands in your brokerage accounts.

[John @ Feb 11th 2008 12:03PM]

Actually, I'm pretty sure it would just lead to Yahoo functioning largely as it does now but with increased Live integration.

[tundraboy @ Feb 11th 2008 11:12AM]

Is there anything that's gotten better AFTER Microsoft acquires it?

[KC @ Feb 11th 2008 1:15PM]

Urm... Bungie Studios?

[E.J. @ Feb 11th 2008 1:56PM]

With Ballmer around, nothing good will ever come of Microsoft acquisitions.

Sure, Bungie was successful. But they split off for a reason.

[David @ Feb 11th 2008 11:21AM]

Wow, this came out as a big surprise. I'm really proud of Yahoo! and their bold decisions. Guess they won't need this anymore: http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Negotiate---Tips-for-Yahoo-5794173

[Rick @ Feb 11th 2008 1:29PM]

Microsoft fan boys slay me. The rip on M$ isn't that they make better products than everyone and rule the world, it's that they make crap and use their wealth to push it on consumers. Then, when that doesn't work, they buy good companies that do or create what M$ can't absorbing a successful product or service and eliminating the competition.

[Rick @ Feb 11th 2008 1:30PM]

Microsoft fan boys slay me. The rip on M$ isn't that they make better products than everyone and rule the world, it's that they make crap and use their wealth to push it on consumers. Then, when that doesn't work, they buy good companies that do or create what M$ can't absorbing a successful product or service and eliminating the competition.

[Rick @ Feb 11th 2008 1:30PM]

Microsoft fan boys slay me. The rip on M$ isn't that they make better products than everyone and rule the world, it's that they make crap and use their wealth to push it on consumers. Then, when that doesn't work, they buy good companies that do or create what M$ can't absorbing a successful product or service and eliminating the competition.

[Rick @ Feb 11th 2008 1:30PM]

Microsoft fan boys slay me. The rip on M$ isn't that they make better products than everyone and rule the world, it's that they make crap and use their wealth to push it on consumers. Then, when that doesn't work, they buy good companies that do or create what M$ can't absorbing a successful product or service and eliminating the competition.

[Rick @ Feb 11th 2008 1:30PM]

Microsoft fan boys slay me. The rip on M$ isn't that they make better products than everyone and rule the world, it's that they make crap and use their wealth to push it on consumers. Then, when that doesn't work, they buy good companies that do or create what M$ can't absorbing a successful product or service and eliminating the competition.

[duffman @ Feb 11th 2008 3:00PM]

Um...lighten up on the submit button there dude.

[caleb @ Feb 11th 2008 11:43AM]

The closest thing to a Monopoly in the Online Advertising (er...I mean "Online Search") field in Google.

Not that I necessarily disagree with you. I think the more competitors in the field the better

[ET @ Feb 11th 2008 11:51AM]

There are a lot more in yahoo than just searches. Forexample, yahoo store is something that Google doesn't currently offer.

[Joey @ Feb 11th 2008 12:04PM]

As a current shareholder of Yahoo purchased back in the days when they were over $100 a share and when I got in I thought it was a bargin, you bet I'll be asking MS to come in and save me from this. When was the last time Yahoo was over $40 a share?

Its nice to think that MS is the evil empire out to ruin the world but in reality its all about money, shareholders money.

And if a shareholder can get X amount for their stocks and they know they will never get anything better since Yahoo has no clue what they want to do in any space, you can bet my hand will be up to sell the darn thing.

Mr. Yang what have you done for me lately?

[GadgetAzz @ Feb 11th 2008 1:03PM]

Thats the problem no one cares about making genuinely good, innovative products, it's all about money... Oh well :D

[cellularcoffee @ Feb 11th 2008 12:44PM]

Sell Yahoo shares now...sell sell sell!

[sinai @ Feb 11th 2008 12:47PM]

why would you sell, cellularcoffee? there's a good chance microsoft will give shareholders more money directly than through the buyout...

.....

[cellularcoffee @ Feb 11th 2008 12:50PM]

Thanks for your tips. However, I got my 50% bump, time to say bye-bye.

[sinai @ Feb 11th 2008 12:44PM]

seriously jerry, who the hell do you think you are? your company was riding atop the dotcom hill a decade ago, but your company is now irrelevant. what was the last thing you put out that anyone gave two squirts about? yahoo answers? LOLWUT? no one reads your news coverage, and no one cares for your "portals," the only thing you're really good for is a quick round of literati, which - much like your search and web advertising - can be found better elsewhere.

face it jerry, your stockholders want out, you can tell by how high your prices jumped when microsoft said "boo." it's an obvious ploy to get more money out of microsoft, and now it seems you have lost.

[sinai @ Feb 11th 2008 12:45PM]

GET OUTTA MY HEAD CHARLES!!!!

[GadgetAzz @ Feb 11th 2008 12:59PM]

Id love to have brunch with Steve Ballmer.

Than i could slap him with a fish and say "you baldy, stop farting about with the crappy zune, xbox, and pathetic windows live crap and make a real upgrade to windows!"

Vista wasn't much of upgrade, just a half-baked 3 years too late poo. Id say "you think making windows purdy justifies an upgrade?? Seriously, WTF!"

Give me a real upgrade. People are leaving windows for mac, and linux cos' you ain't delivering what we want.

Sorry, that wss in no way relevant to this story but hey :D

[Tim @ Feb 11th 2008 1:25PM]

Yahoo for Yahoo!

[sumants @ Feb 11th 2008 1:28PM]

It's only a matter of time before they eventually get taken over. The entire Board of Directors is up for an overhaul, and guess who's going to manipulate their guys into place? Once Ballmer gets his men behind Yahoo!'s ranks, the fat lady can get ready for her song.