Transcript

Friday April 25, 2008

Microsoft Considers Next Steps With Yahoo

As Yahoo holds out in hopes of a higher offer from Microsoft, a proxy battle seems increasingly likely. Microsoft announced it plans to either launch a hostile bid for Yahoo as early as next week if Yahoo does not begin negotiating with regards to Microsoft’s takeover offer or to call off the bid entirely as a second option. Microsoft has been trying to acquire Yahoo since January in an attempt to bolster its online advertising business. Microsoft has set a deadline of Saturday for Yahoo to accept its offer before it steps in to reconsider its options.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article3812281.ece
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2435171420080425
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/04/25/Microsoft-considers-life-without-Yahoo_1.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/24/AR2008042402481.html
http://www.webmasterworld.com/msft/3634816.htm

Morgan Stanley Executive Benjamin Fried Joins Google As CIO

Google has appointed Morgan Stanley executive Benjamin Fried as its new Chief Information Officer, who will take his new post in May. Fried will replace Douglas Merrill, who left Google in early April to run EMI’s digital music business. Fried led Morgan Stanley’s Application Infrastructure group and while at Morgan Stanley, one of his projects was working on Google's initial public offering in 2004, according to an internal Morgan Stanley memo.

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9927888-7.html
http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/google/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=GU1KYAMKV1KD4QSNDLPSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=207401996
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/internet/0,39044908,62040601,00.htm
http://blogs.wsj.com/biztech/2008/04/24/google-finds-a-new-cio/

Baidu Shares Rise After Sales Forecast Beats Analyst Estimates

In response to higher than expected second quarter forecast, China’s most used search engine Baidu.com shares rose to nearly 7 percent. Baidu estimates second quarter sales may be as high as 800 million yuan, which beat all 13 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg, which had a median estimate of 675 million yuan. Baidu posted a 71 percent increase in first-quarter profit following a surge in Internet use in the nation which spurred companies to buy more online advertising.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=apiPvgtwlIKA

AOL Acquires Fantasy Sports Site Fleaflicker

AOL has purchased fantasy sports site Fleaflicker, which it plans to fold into its AOL sports site to improve its lackluster fantasy football offerings. AOL, which acquired the Fleaflicker site for an undisclosed amount, will launch the integrated service in July.
Fleaflicker also powers the Washington Post’s Fantasy Football leagues.

http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-aol-buys-fantasy-football-site-fleaflicker/
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-acquires-fleaflicker/

[edited by: Vanessa_Zamora at 10:21 pm (utc) on April 25, 2008]