Schmidt: Microhoo would hurt the Net

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Google doesn't want Microsoft to acquire Yahoo.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Beijing, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that his company "would be concerned by any kind of acquisition of Yahoo by Microsoft," according to a Reuters story published Monday.

Without citing specifics, Schmidt said his observation is based the "things that (Microsoft) has done that have been so difficult for everyone."

He added: "We would hope that anything they did would be consistent with the openness of the Internet, but I doubt it would be."

We can guess he was referring to, among other things, Microsoft's long history of antitrust battles both at home and with the European Union. The latter has continued to fine the software maker. Microsoft's intransigence on licensing prompted another EU fine, for $1.35 billion, just last month.

The irony here is that the EU's approval last week of Google's $3.1 billion purchase of ad services specialist DoubleClick has probably intensified pressure on Yahoo to consider Microsoft's offer. Microsoft's bid was initially valued at $31 a share, although informal talks said to be taking place between the two companies could reshape the terms of the proposed deal.

[soul_tech]

google = microsoft of search

google has similar market share in search as Microsoft had in desktops when they were considered a monopoly. It would seem that Google is scared of the increased competition from a merger.

BTW: The EU keeps picking on Microsoft for bundling features that Apple makes a living off of. That's actually promoting number 2 over number 1, which isn't really supporting competition.

[Penguinisto]

Yeah, right.

So then, maybe you can tell is Google ever...

* forced OEM's to use its product by default, to the exclusion of
all others (as MSFT has done).

* built-in incompatibilities with competing products (as MSFT
has done).

* been convicted of anti-trust activities (as MSFT has done).

You also try to compare Apple to MSFT, when Apple is a
complete solution vendor (hardware + software), while MSFT is
only a software vendor.

Basically, the EU convicted MSFT of forcing influence in areas
outside of its scope.

HTH,

/P

[AppleSuxLeo]

The only thing it will hurt...

is Google`s bottom line. Schmidt may have to give up a jet or two ;)

[njsokalski]

Of course Google is saying it's a bad thing...

In pretty much all articles I've read about the Microsoft/Yahoo purchase, it was claimed that the reason is because of fear of Google. Well, it sounds to me like this is just Google trying to say "They shouldn't do it, it would hurt us".

[LynetteWilson67]

Complaint about Google AdWords and organic search ranking

I am writing you to ask for support or to hear if others have run into issues with Google?s Organic Search and Google?s AdWords. The company I work for, Laserfiche (www.laserfiche.com), spends more than $500,000.00 annually on AdWords. I?ve been having ongoing problems with sites that rank above us in the organic site of Google. I have done further research on these sites and have seen these sites use paid linking, paid directories, and forum pulling to gain higher page count for their sites. Google states that paid linking is against their policies and will sandbox sites that use just practices. We have reported these facts over and over to Google AdWords Account Reps and they have told us there is nothing they can do for us in regards to the sites in question. But they would help us with other marketing means to help our AdWords. We have asked for contact information to the Google Search Team and we still get nowhere with Google.
Has anyone else had issues like this with Google?
Please see our letter to Dr. Schmidt, CEO of Google.
http://www.laserfiche.com/newsroom/pressrelease/2008/031408_google.html
Lynette Wilson
[e-mail]

[Mugunth]

FUD

I don't understand, why this guy is spreading FUD over Microhoo. I still believe MicroHoo <<<< Google.
Probably, Google should be afraid, only when Microsoft tries to acquire Adobe.