The London Times reports that following the collapse of the Microsoft-Yahoo merger, other parties have swooped in to start negotiations with the software giant over a possible tie-up. Time
Warner's AOL and News Corporation are the two companies mentioned , although the report fails to name its sources. Yahoo, meanwhile, is expected to sew up a search advertising deal with Google within
the next week.
Separately, Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of the advertising group WPP, said that the deal would have been good for the advertising industry, but that Microsoft showed
its toughness in walking away from the Yahoo deal. "Microsoft showed price discipline by not going above their revised offer," Sorrell said. "You don't need to worry about Microsoft, they are a $300
billion company with plenty of other ideas to explore.
The people who have lost out most are their customers and (advertising) agencies who were looking for a better balance in the
marketplace. Such a deal would have provided that balance."
Read the whole story at Times Online »