DISQUS

Brian Chappell · 1 year ago

That is unreal. I am glad I had not started drinking coffee or it woulda gotten spewed across he screen.

"Google’s David Drummond has the audacity to suggest that we should all be concerned about the potential for Microsoft to monopolize the internet."

I think I might print that out and hang it above my monitor for good laughs.

Andy Beal · 1 year ago

@Brian - LOL, I just realized that statement is funny in two ways. First, that Google has a monopoly, yet doesn't want anyone else to have one. Second, the one that probably got you spewing coffee, that Microsoft could ever monopolize the internet. ;-)

Case Stevens · 1 year ago

It seems as if Google gets more arrogant which each new event that occurs.
Basically, they're right though. They only should have added themselves too. :-)

Marios Alexandrou · 1 year ago

If Microsoft had any doubts about whether they were making the right move, I'm sure they're finding Google's response very assuring.

A.Charlotte Riley · 1 year ago

Hey Andy! Agreed 100% - very hypocritical.But hey, there's a $40 billion dollar online advertising market at stake..

Barry Welford · 1 year ago

If Google had any sense, they would encourage the acquisition. It's probably too high a price for Yahoo! as it exists at the moment. In addition, it's like giving Microsoft a tar baby for those who know their Brer Rabbit stories. Microsoft will undoubtedly do entirely the wrong things with Yahoo! if it gets its hands on it. However on reflection it's probably no worse for Microsoft than trying to get that dead horse, Live, moving.

Dean · 1 year ago

I agree with Barry that a MSFT-YHOO union would take months to gain any traction. While MSFT would inevitably bungle their way through integrating two enormously disparate corporate cultures, Google could continue to build its "market share" (trans: monopoly). I think this is just Google's attempt to rattle MSFT's cage; after all, they HATE each other so any means by which they can irritate the other is what they will do.

AndyBeard · 1 year ago

Microsoft should also buy the Netscape brand just to rattle a few more cages.

Maybe this is the first push from Google to have access to their applications (not just email) included by default on many PCs just as trial versions of M$ products are included.

Daryl Tay · 1 year ago

I have to agree with Marios. Google should have just kept their mouth shut. I honestly don't think they much (if anything) to worry about from Microhoo. Even if it does go through, the months they'll take to sort out all the paperwork is more than enough for Google to pull out a project or two and gain even more market share of the web.

Anthony Lawrence · 1 year ago

I think it is just cage rattling. Google knows better than most how weak Yahoo is and how much energy Microsoft will squander on this at a time when its empire is crumbling.

Microsoft does not grok the Internet and never has.

Google has nothing to fear.

agerhart · 1 year ago

Amen Andy...well said. I sent this to everyone that has been sending me Google's PR crap.

Steven Bradley · 1 year ago

Sure there's some hypocrisy going on here, but let's face it this is all just business. Google has a lot of interest in holding off the potential deal.

But yeah, the words do have a hollow ring to them.

Hawaii SEO · 1 year ago

You have a point… Google didn’t need to say that. (Everyone else in the world would have said that sooner or later anyway)

So… Microsoft recently purchased the online advertising/ad-serving giant aQuantitive which was partly in response to Google purchasing Double Click, etc, etc… It’s turning into a two sided arms race.

Watch for Microsoft to purchase a web analytics package Omniture and then make it free and then Commission junction in an effort to go tit-for-tat with Google Analytics & Performics. (And on and on…) It’s only a matter of time before they start purchasing companies like Axiom Data Corporation and then the major web hosting facilities.

Anyway… The part that makes me nervous is the consolidation of power into only two companies. I don’t want to post a long-winded rant about this so I’ll just stop right here.

Jayson · 1 year ago

Google shouldn't have said anything in response to the offer. This could be exactly what MSN was after and definitely gives Google investors something to worry about. This isn't something I would have ever expected from Google and does seem hypocritical.

Can Microsoft integrate Yahoo and MSN services into their future applications and operating systems? Everything could be integrated, free and stock on every PC.

Shannon · 1 year ago

my vote: hypocrite

Google uses their power on every chance they get to force people to abide by their rules (ie paid links).

They're only interested in their own self interest.

~Shannon

Kaila Colbin · 1 year ago

Have to agree with you on this one, Andy. Does anyone else see the potential for this letter to be used against Google in an anti-trust suit? "According to your own words, Mr. Drummond, it's inappropriate to establish proprietary monopolies — and then leverage your dominance into new, adjacent markets...."

Utah SEO · 1 year ago

Google has no concern for anybody's interests but their own. They're like politicians.

Blackberry · 1 year ago

I find it quite funny. Like you said it's very hypocritical of them. I especially liked the part where they were complaining about Microsoft leveraging their monopoly to go into adjacent markets. Google is king at doing this exact thing.

bizwriter · 1 year ago

My first guess would be that Google panicked and so it issued such a statement. Then again, I can't believe that Google is panicking so easily; neither, I believe, it is so naive to make such a backlash-provoking statement. Who knows? Maybe the legal department is taking over Google.

Zen · 1 year ago

I'm going with 'hypocrite'.

Chucks · 1 year ago

How can one possibly be google? I've never heard of that.

Tim Madel · 1 year ago

Andy,

You are spot on. I had exactly the same sentiment when I read Google's statement which reeks of hypocrisy.

I welcome Microsoft's acquisition of Yahoo as I believe it will create a more formidable competitor to Google. And competition, while messy and sometimes painful, always leads to better things for all of us.

I would also say the fear that the internet will become dominated by these two huge corporations is unfounded. While they may dominate in the short-term, someone will always come along to disrupt the status quo. Google did it themselves in the late 90's.