Ballmer: Microsoft can move on without Yahoo

Microsoft's CEO on Wednesday indicated that the company is unlikely to raise its bid for Yahoo and is prepared to walk away from the deal.

Steve Ballmer, speaking at a conference in Milan, Italy, said "we know what Yahoo's worth. $44 billion is a lot of money," according to a Dow Jones report.

Ballmer added that Microsoft is "prepared to move forward alone without Yahoo."

Yahoo on Tuesday reported that its first-quarter net income increased dramatically and reported earnings per share of 11 cents, 2 cents above analyst estimates.

Ballmer made similar comments on Tuesday, ahead of Yahoo's earnings report.

[rshimizu12]

Other options

I think this is probably a good move. $44 billion is a lot of money even for Microsoft. They pump a awful lot of resources into what Yahoo would have offered them.

[dbargen]

Oh, darn

And here I thought MS was ready to kick a big enough hole in its
hull to finally sink it. I guess we'll have to watch the folly that is
U.S.S. Microsoft lumber on with monkey boy having fun playing
chicken with the icebergs.

[GatesOfHell]

And the really entertaining part ...

... is that there are a lot of hull-opening icebergs floating around
inside the ship as well. So it's only a matter of time before the hull
is comprised from one side or the other.

Monkey Boy, meanwhile, has steered the ship into waters with both
icebergs and mines. And given his own penchant for tap dancing in
minefields, this looks like a lot of fun to him.

[JCPayne]

Yeah right! See you all @ the M$ rummage sale in 2012

Microsoft is about to fall faster than Excite@Home they have no future.

[josefamatias]

Yahoo-Microsoft

Yahoo investors don't get fool by Microsoft, their revenue, profits and shares have steadily falling since years ago, if you accept 50% in Microsoft stocks you are going to see your "GOLD MINE" stocks evaporate over time, if you want the deal, accept only hard cash for your Yahoo shares

[Fireweaver]

Yahoo shares

Because Yahoo shares are worth so much more than Microsoft?

[i_made_this]

It Ain't Over Til It's Over

Ballmer's just the Board's mouthpiece. Chairman Gates is still firmly in control of this ship and receiving counsel on this and other investment options from America's most brilliant investment strategist Warren Buffet. It's a good bet Buffet's team at Berkshire will pull finger on the Yahoo deal from behind the scenes. Personally, there are other strategic investments in the tech arena I'd prefer to see Microsoft make than Yahoo with $44 billion.

[The_Decider]

What a shame

Monkey Boy was drooling at the thought of ruining MS in one bad deal a few weeks ago.

Could someone have actually penetrated the thickest skull on earth?

Oh well, MS is damaging itself in other entertaining ways.

[Fireweaver]

Microsoft and Yahoo

Given the toxic environment Yahoo has created for this deal I feel it'd be a mistake to move forward with it.

I still think it's been worthwhile for both companies. Yahoo got TONS of free press because of it and actually became somewhat relevant in due to the media exposure. All of their barely noteworthy moves garnered excessive attention, which helps with strengthening their brand.

And Microsoft, though not gaining a huge merger that would have made their web services a contender, doesn't have to deal with a huge huge merger and fall out risks associated with it.
Given that Microsoft has a foot in almost every technology door, having an extra 44 billion dollars lying around to pursue other interests has some big appeal

[The_Decider]

44 billion

They don't have that much "laying around".

Even with the MS shares involved, MS would have had to go into debt for what would have been a deal that made them weaker.

After all, getting bigger and slower is not the way to compete with an agile company.

[Penguinisto]

ROTFL... yeah, that's the ticket.

I suspect that Ballmer may have gotten a first-class arse chewing from his board... they don't want to get into such a fight, and know that it would cost them more than its worth.

I almost wanted to see MSFT do it - just to see if they could actually manage to shake the debt and the morass that it would cause.

/P

[SoCal Attorney]

Microsoft, please go away

There is no way this deal can be good for consumers. I just wish Miscrosoft would go away. I have my website hosted on Yahoo and I sure as hell don't want to see Microsoft screw it up.

[as901]

Microsoft VS everyone

Regardless of the ads, Microsoft does not "innivate". They find ways to legally steal the work of others and profit off them.

The last thing this world needs is for Microsoft to have more power to control the net.

If Microsoft buys Yahoo, I would stop using Yahoo that same day.

Mark Heinemann