Microsoft for quite a while now has been keeping an ever watchful eye on Yahoo ever since last years acquisition talks fell through. Since then Yahoo’s stock price has tanked and is finally starting to rebound. Starting today, Microsoft has entered the world of bond selling in an effort to raise money for “general corporate purposes” – up to $15 billion to be exact. So what kind of general corporate purposes is Microsoft talking about? Well, besides Yahoo becoming another target for Redmond, there’s SAP and also RIM. Is Microsoft about to go on a big corporate buying spree?
Of course, we all know about the great tech disappointment that was the potential Yahoo-Microsoft venture that failed last year…multiple times. It seemed as if it was an off-again-on-again romance with either side never fully committing. Well, after Yahoo’s stock price took a nose dive after failing to win Microsoft over, Microsoft could be coming back to the playing field with some cash on hand and a new agenda as they never really gave up their quest to jump in on the search/advertising market. They merely put it on hold. Good for Microsoft because if they do in fact make a bid for Yahoo, they can now bid lower than last year and still walk away with a new company in their pocket. And, of course bad for Yahoo as they are now seen as less desirable. Ouch.
Besides Yahoo, Microsoft has also previously voiced plans to buy, or at least show interest in global software giant SAP. Such an acquisition would give Microsoft an even bigger advantage in the corporate world as SAP is a major staple in the office workspace.
And last on the list is Blackberry maker RIM. Now I can hear all of the loyal Blackberry users (myself included) crying out begging and pleading Microsoft to leave RIM alone. While purchasing RIM would most certainly give Microsoft a commanding lead in the mobile marketplace, one that is only going to grow in the coming years, I personally feel that RIM and the Blackberry would be ruined if Big M every took over. Look at their Windows Mobile line. While it is a big market leader and has wide market acceptance, it isn’t necessarily the best. Size doesn’t bring popularity…or something like that.
So which company do you think Microsoft is vying for? Or, is their latest move to sell bonds really just so they can update their office spaces with some nice tropical greenery? It’s hard to say. But as a loyal Blackberry user I can whole heartedly say: “Microsoft…pick them!” Anyone else care to disagree?
Source: Alley Insider, Image Source
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