Acquisitions, yahoo, microsoft, steve ballmer

Microsoft employee on merger: "No one wants it"

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer could begin a proxy fight for control over Yahoo's board toward the end of this week. Microsoft's rank and file do not want him to, according to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley. None would go on record with an opinion contrary to Ballmer, but one anonymous source told Foley:

No one wants it to happen. The only reason it's being considered is that the management of Windows Live has been so ineffective that they can't ship anything worth using. They are consistently behind what consumers want, and unlike the old Microsoft, they are so poorly managed that they can't even copy everyone else.

Another source told Foley the Yahoo merger would bring nothing but regulatory strife:

Generally, people just accept it as likely coming, but a lot don't expect it to impact anything materially for at least a year. Think the EU is going to let this go easily, if at all? It will take forever in regulatory approvals.

(Photo by Eric I. E.)

5:08 AM on Tue Apr 29 2008
By Nicholas Carlson
2,032 views
7 comments

Comments

CharBo at 06:12 AM on 04/29/08
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"They are consistently behind what consumers want, and...they are so poorly managed that they can't even copy everyone else."

But this is an apt description for Yahoo right now. Why compound an error? Abide by the old adage: two wrongs don't make a right!
sonofapitch at 07:29 AM on 04/29/08
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I'm sure that the Microsoft online folks don't want it. I guess they'd prefer to just keep losing $250M a quarter.
michaellamb at 08:15 AM on 04/29/08
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like the old MSFT... lolwut???
sggrf at 08:43 AM on 04/29/08
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MSN is the worst Internet company in the world. Their arrogance is amazing. Don't they know why the valley hates them do much?
WagCurious at 08:51 AM on 04/29/08
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From what I've heard there is so much turnover in MSN that anything that brings headcount into the division is seen as a good thing. From the Mini Microsoft blog [www.blogger.com]

"To the question on why Microsoft employees in the valley like the Yahoo deal:

Most of us work either in the TV division or MSN -- both of which are complete f-ing disasters. Microsoft should have lit off a neutron bomb here a long time ago -- but that would require management skills.

I work in the TV division (completely fucked up with evil and corrupt management and 11 YEARS of red ink), and I for one will be shifting to a Yahoo group on day 1 after the acquisition.

I know that at least 10 of my work friends have the same plan. It is our escape plan if something in the valley doesn't look more interesting first.

Therefore, we like the deal.

Friday, April 25, 2008 12:04:00 AM"
It Must Be Take a Worm... at 11:02 AM on 04/29/08
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@CharBo: Comparing to Microsoft to Yahoo! in this instance is ridiculous. Y! has the #1 mail platform, the #2 search platform, is the most visited website, and has top-3 position in some odd 25 other properties, none of which Microsoft can say.
tamoko at 05:52 AM on 04/30/08
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"They are consistently behind what consumers want, and unlike the old Microsoft, they are so poorly managed that they can't even copy everyone else" -Ouch !