Microsoft’s Airball Strategy-$32 B+ Loss Increasing

“airball: The corporate version of a cat hairball. Someone who makes lots of noise, disrupts everything, has the potential to make a big mess - but ultimately does nothing.” - Nominated by Bud Pass To be sure, we are referring to the Microsoft hostile takeover fiasco over Yahoo, urged on by Carl Icahn.

Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer

Google Inc.’s top lawyer says the Yahoo “buyout could hurt Web innovation”. - NO Kidding… when was the last time you can even remember Microsoft actually being ahead of the 8-ball and CREATING something from within the company (not purchase some outside innovative enterprise), that was revolutionary? To be sure my point is clear - does anyone remember Microsoft’s WebTV back in 1997 that was suppose to change the internet forever? See 1997 original WebTV design guide website here All of Microsoft’s acquisitions are here

Without the operating system (OS) monopoly which allowed Microsoft revenue accumulation like no other company in the Internet era, Microsoft has been floundering. The current Microsoft OS flop “Vista”, touted by PC World Magazine as the biggest tech disappointment of 2007, or the surging popularity of the Apple computers by many PC defectors, or the web server of choice - Apache running the Linux OS that has literally left Microsoft’s server products in the dust, and now the web 2.0 open-source concept “cloud computing” that in many circumstances is absolutely free - makes Microsoft’s flagship “Office Suite“, appear almost obsolete and has put Microsoft in the pecuilar position of lack of direction and having to reinvent itself to remain dominant. With all this being said no one has counted Microsoft out yet, simply because they have left the arena, but Microsoft’s future is being bet on with great risk by the “old school” on the basis of their past. What’s with that anyway- Mark Andreessen ?

The New York Times technology blog, Bits, blasted Microsoft for being “either cunningly devious or deeply confused”

Microsoft has lost more than $32B + in devalued stock, since it’s on again-off again ridiculous hostile takeover of Yahoo, announced Feb 1, 2008.

For anyone to dispute the fact that Yahoo is a significant internet player - is callous and naive, since almost every one of the internet’s regular 1,407,724,920 users has utilized a Yahoo product at one time or another. There are only a hand full of companies in the entire world that can make that claim.

By the very nature of Yahoo still being a major internet player and intact since it’s beginning in January of 1994 is testimony that it has the moxie to continue being an leading internet player.

Internet pioneer Marc Andreessen, co-founder of the defunct and once darling browser “Netscape” told the “Sun Valley 2008” panel session titled “Looking Around the Corner to the Future”audience, which included many executives from the so-called “old media” world, that non-digital businesses are toast. That includes TV, and Newspapers - zowie batman !

Carl Icahn Leads Yahoo Shareholder Revolt

Billionaire Investor Vows To Oust Company’s Directors In Wake Of Withdrawn Microsoft Bid

Wall Street analysts are more bullish on the notion that Icahn may prevail with his proxy fight, now that Microsoft has come out with a statement of support.

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We begin 2 new regular columns here- “Next Tech” & “Thriving in Todays Economy” Aug 1st 08‘. Our special Bejing Olympics 2008 coverage begins July 15th 08′.