Well, Microsoft tried really hard to develop their own MSN AdCentre to try to compete with Google AdWords. Years passing by, but a miserably low percentage of the online advertisers switched to Microsoft’s offering as opposed to Google’s AdWords. Microsoft thought it has a ‘channel’ via it’s MSN.com, and Hotmail. But Google’s Gmail actually managed to attract new users, with a smart marketing offers (2 GB of free space!) and a Anti Spam that actually works!
So if Microsoft wants to capitalize on it’s Investment in the AdCentre and also Live.com (that seems a bit lost or beheaded) they need to purchase someone who has visitors – to be able to display the adverts from their AdCentre customers. Yahoo? Well, if there is nothing better on the market, and there does not really seem to be, is a good choice. Yahoo has the experience (remember Overture?), and is has a much better search technology than that MSN ever managed to develop. In the last years the MSN search results are actually becoming more and more pathetic. Ok to be more precise – irrelevant.
So is it a good move for Microsoft to buy Yahoo?
For the Irish workforce it might actually be good. Since Microsoft has a strong presence in Ireland, while Yahoo never bothered opening an office here. I bet if the acquisition goes ahead, we will see some Yahoo jobs in Ireland as well.
Do you Yahoo?