Microsoft to open up?

Microsoft announced yesterday: Microsoft Makes Strategic Changes in Technology and Business Practices to Expand Interoperability.

Steve Ballmer said:

Number one, we're committing to ensure open connections for our high volume products.
Number two, we're committing to promote data portability for our high volume products.
Number three, we're committing to enhancing Microsoft's support for industry standards.
And four, we're committing to fostering a more open engagement with industry, as well as the open source software community.

I think that Microsoft did this mostly to please the EU who is still on their case about openness and including the browser. If they don't do this then the EU would never approve the MSFT + YHOO deal. What do you think?

Microsoft Responds to Yahoo! Announcement, is not pleased

Microsoft is not pleased with Yahoo's decision. Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) today issued the following statement in response to the announcement by Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) that its Board of Directors has rejected Microsoft’s previously announced proposal to acquire Yahoo!:

It is unfortunate that Yahoo! has not embraced our full and fair proposal to combine our companies. Based on conversations with stakeholders of both companies, we are confident that moving forward promptly to consummate a transaction is in the best interests of all parties.

We are offering shareholders superior value and the opportunity to participate in the upside of the combined company. The combination also offers an increasingly exciting set of solutions for consumers, publishers and advertisers while becoming better positioned to compete in the online services market.

A Microsoft-Yahoo! combination will create a more effective company that would provide greater value and service to our customers. Furthermore, the combination will create a more competitive marketplace by establishing a compelling number two competitor for Internet search and online advertising.

The Yahoo! response does not change our belief in the strategic and financial merits of our proposal. As we have said previously, Microsoft reserves the right to pursue all necessary steps to ensure that Yahoo!’s shareholders are provided with the opportunity to realize the value inherent in our proposal.

Oh well

Microsoft offers to buy Yahoo, del.icio.us will become win.icio.us

Microsoft offers to buy Yahoo, del.icio.us will become win.icio.us, flickr will become Windows Live Ajax Photo Viewer ;-) Of course Microsoft has their own flavor of del.icio.us called Listas and a photo organizer called Windows Live Photo Gallery. Hopefully they won't touch any of those.

Well however owns YHOO stock will surely sell today. Microsoft recently did deals with facebook, digg and Wall Street Journal to provide ads, this will just strengthen their ad presence. Google was eating Yahoo's lunch for years ;-(