Comments on: A Yahoo and Microsoft deal? Search me http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2009/02/26/a-yahoo-and-microsoft-deal-search-me/ Where media and technology meet Fri, 24 May 2013 10:42:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Caleb http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2009/02/26/a-yahoo-and-microsoft-deal-search-me/comment-page-1/#comment-356231 Caleb Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:37:11 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/?p=14934#comment-356231 Wouldn't the Yahoo/Microsoft search partnership be anti-competitive, reducing a two horse race to one. Users are not forced into using Google search and yet it remains hugely popular, they simply provide a superior product and this refects in it's market share. If Yahoo or Microsoft improved usability and added some innovative features they could claw back some market share. Googles search dominance is often drawn as a comparison to Microsofts Windows monopoly, there is nothing stopping users switching from Google to Yahoo or elsewhere and this is an easy and quick thing to do. Additionally, Yahoo and Microsoft offer the number one and two IM Client and email services wouldnt this be further cementing a monopoly of sorts in internet services? If such a deal where to be agreed, I would certainly see the Europeans examining this very closely, it is surely anything but a done deal. Again this seems to reduce consumer choice rather than offer any benefit. This deal is purely beneficial economically rather than to the end user in my view, Google search popularity are the fruits of it's labour and deserved. Wouldn’t the Yahoo/Microsoft search partnership be anti-competitive, reducing a two horse race to one.
Users are not forced into using Google search and yet it remains hugely popular, they simply provide a superior product and this refects in it’s market share. If Yahoo or Microsoft improved usability and added some innovative features they could claw back some market share.

Googles search dominance is often drawn as a comparison to Microsofts Windows monopoly, there is nothing stopping users switching from Google to Yahoo or elsewhere and this is an easy and quick thing to do. Additionally, Yahoo and Microsoft offer the number one and two IM Client and email services wouldnt this be further cementing a monopoly of sorts in internet services?

If such a deal where to be agreed, I would certainly see the Europeans examining this very closely, it is surely anything but a done deal. Again this seems to reduce consumer choice rather than offer any benefit. This deal is purely beneficial economically rather than to the end user in my view, Google search popularity are the fruits of it’s labour and deserved.

]]> By: Bill http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2009/02/26/a-yahoo-and-microsoft-deal-search-me/comment-page-1/#comment-356229 Bill Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:41:09 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/?p=14934#comment-356229 I've always respected Microsoft for their products, services, people and business acumen. On the other hand, my opinion of Yahoo has plummeted from middle of the road to sub-basement - they are to the online world what Sears and K-mart are to retail. If Microsoft, with their talent and resources, cannot better take-on Google by themselves, then my opinion of Microsoft is misplaced. Any relationship between Microsoft and Yahoo is clearly an indication of Microsoft's weakening, and not a promise of combined strength. I can think of few companies who are so close to plunging off the cliff than Yahoo - and the world won't notice their demise for a nano-second! I’ve always respected Microsoft for their products, services, people and business acumen. On the other hand, my opinion of Yahoo has plummeted from middle of the road to sub-basement – they are to the online world what Sears and K-mart are to retail. If Microsoft, with their talent and resources, cannot better take-on Google by themselves, then my opinion of Microsoft is misplaced. Any relationship between Microsoft and Yahoo is clearly an indication of Microsoft’s weakening, and not a promise of combined strength. I can think of few companies who are so close to plunging off the cliff than Yahoo – and the world won’t notice their demise for a nano-second!

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