I’m thinking based on sources of news that a Yahoo! and Microsoft Merger is going to happen in some form. But they have a long, long way to go in order to make an impact on Google, but at least they’d not be competing against each other. See the Wall Street Journal article on cooperative talks. I’m hearing numbers such as $50B. With a B.
So, if they do, what would happen to Adcenter and Yahoo Search Marketing? What about Yahoo Small Business Partnership?
But a big question to ask as well is how would this affect Ask’s future? I think it opens up a lot of room for innovation from Ask – and that is what they’re about. I also think there is room for 3 players in the search world. Perhaps it would offer up some breathing room while Yahoo! and Microsoft figure out how to work together? If MS/Y are busy trying to figure out where all the wires go, Ask could bring its mobile, local, contextual, and other technologies forward a few levels.
They’ll be distracted for a while, and Ask has never been so focused. Greg Ott also posted hints about things abuzz at Ask in “The Algorithm Is On The Move” and Ask is rolling out its contextual advertising setup in the next month. Gosh I hope it’s good. I see a window opening. Or Breaking. Time will tell.
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I have no doubt that it is probably better for these companies to actually merge. I guess when I hear what it means to Ask.com, I have 2 thoughts about it, 1. What are the chances that this merger actually steals profits? With fewer players, I would guess the public would consider more going to someone like ASK. 2. Any company that continues to be in the black as far as profits, even if it is significantly smaller than it’s competition, should continue to do business.
Overall, I don’t see this having a significant impact for ASK. I think that if they wish, they are still in a position to take control. They currently make money, and if the public discovers that they have a superior product, they will leave the other search engines, whether the market has 3 or 3000 engines competing against each other.
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