Search Engine News
Google announced that it had acquired “Begun,” a Russian contextual ad service, for $140 million. The service had been a unit of Russia’s Rambler Media. Rambler also owns the Russian portal Rambler.ru. As part of the deal, Google-enhanced search results and ads will appear on the Rambler portal site.
Begun is a sister company of the third largest search engine in Russia – Rambler.ru. Yandex holds number one spot with over 40% market share in search and in ads, followed by Google as number 2 in search and Begun as number 2 in ads.
Acquisition makes Google number 2 search engine and number 2 ad network in Russia.
Rambler will operate as an independent search engine, but with ads delivered by Google.
Revenue increased 18 percent to $15.8 billion from $13.4 billion last year, just ahead of Wall Street’s average forecast of $15.7 billion, according to a Thomson Financial survey. The revenue rise would have been 14 percent if not for weakness in the dollar.
The growth rate is not good enough for Wall Street, however, as the stock was down nearly 5% at the time of this post. Analysts see Microsoft as struggling in a weak economy.
If making $15.84 billion in three months is struggling, then I want to suffer! – Search Engine Watch
LOL. Google also released Q4 profits(coincidence?) the same day with $5.37 billion. That’s a third of Microsoft’s quarterly profits.
Hitwise also reported that Google is nearing 70% market share in the States, while Microsoft is still learning to walk at ~4%.
Legg Mason Capital Management Chairman Bill Miller plans to back Yahoo! Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jerry Yang in his fight for control of the Internet company, pitting himself against billionaire investor Carl Icahn.
Carl teamed up with Microsoft in battle for Yahoo. Bill and Jerry against Balmer and Carl is an interesting fight to watch.
The bell rung and opponents entered the stage. In the red shorts and left corner is Jerry Yang backed up by Bill Miller. On the opposite side is Steve Ballmer, in black shorts, backed by Carl Icahn. It’s a game old men play and honor is not always a factor.
Carl is plain after cash. He couldn’t give a whip for search market share, competition nor the employees. Gain control of the board and sell Yahoo on garage sale.
Ballmer needs Yahoo like blind man needs a walking dog. Microsoft isn’t getting anywhere without Yahoo.
Jerry just got big balls. His child, Yahoo, needs care, love and attention and he’s willing to fight for it. If he cant keep it, he’ll make sure it will be adopted by caring parents. I think Jerry cares less for shareholders.
Bill Miller. Who’s this guy? Is he up to no good? Or is he a new ally for Yahoo? Come back for the next episode of “Summer Stories: Yahoo Dates Microsoft – When Cookies in the Bag are Too Big”.
Permalink Comments Back to Top Back to Homepage
