incep cu ultimele magarii aflate. multe mai sunt de spus, de multe nici n-am auzit, dar sper c-o sa aud curand
Microsoft pursuit of Google revealed
Friday October 31, 2003
Microsoft approached Google, the internet search engine, two months ago to discuss a partnership or even a merger it emerged today.
According to the New York Times, Google showed little interest in overtures from the company that dominates the market for operating systems. Instead, Google is pushing ahead with plans for a £9bn flotation in March next year in the biggest hi-tech public offering in years.
But the paper says Microsoft may still be interested in pursuing Google at a later date. While neither company has commented on the report, such an approach would be typical of the way Microsoft operates, when confronted by a competitive threat.
When Netscape appeared on the scene in 1995 with a software browser that threatened Microsoft's overwhelmingly dominant operating system, Microsoft - according to testimony during the US government's antitrust case against the software giant - made an improper offer to split the browser market between them.
When the softly-softly approach failed, Microsoft forced manufacturers into making Internet Explorer the default browser on their computers. The strategy worked brilliantly as Internet Explorer now dominates the browser market.
Microsoft and Google could turn into competitors if Microsoft decides to integrate search features directly into its coming Longhorn operating system. Anticipating such a challenge from Microsoft, Google is branching into new areas to broaden its source of revenues. The Times reports that Google has approached Friendster, a silicon valley social networking company that has grown rapidly.
Launched five years ago by two Stanford University dropouts, Google has grown into the most popular search engine on the web. Wall Street investment banks have been salivating at the prospect of an initial public offering for the search giant, which deals with 150 million inquiries a day, because it is one of the few dotcoms to have flourished.
The company is considering selling a 10 to 15% stake to the public to raise money to invest in the business and reward employees, venture capitalists and early investors. Banks competing to underwrite the flotation include Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse First Boston.
Google has also explored bypassing Wall Street and selling shares directly to investors in an online auction, although the company is expected to use the traditional Wall Street route of a public offering when it comes to the crunch.
Unlike the dozens of companies that floated at the height of the dotcom boom, Google already has a profitable business, making around £90m a year thanks to the sale of sponsored links to advertisers and a large, loyal user base.
PS - inca o data, i need FACTS - nu chestii gen linux e bun, win e rau, sau invers. this is about microsoft..
and then you control the information based on user's limited time to look for information.
)
