A possible Google - Microsoft/Yahoo face off?

Now that everyone is talking about Microsoft’s proposed buyout of Yahoo!, I thought of going back in time and taking a peek at the rivalry between Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft. Surprisingly, they go neck to neck in all areas and while Google is the dominant one as of now, you just cannot say who will win the war. Assuming the Microsoft –Yahoo! deal does go out well and give a huge competition to Google, let me point out the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

Microsoft bought MessageCast Inc, which is an automated alerting and messaging services firm, while Google was talking about its much-hyped Android platform.

Google bought Marratech, a video conferencing software firm, to compete with Microsoft’s Unified Communications.

Microsoft bought ScreenTonic, a mobile advertising solutions firm, to compete with Google ad solutions.

Google bought YouTube for a whopping $1.65 billion and captured a huge share of the market. Later, Microsoft came up with Soapbox to compete with YouTube but failed miserably.

Google bought Picasa, a photo management software, to set its foot in the market. Later, Yahoo! acquired both Ludicorp and Flickr and has become the market leader in photo sharing.

Google bought Where2 Mapping software to compete with Yahoo Maps, but couldn’t succeed as Yahoo! still remains the market leader.

In the internet space, it’s even more interesting. While Google is the clear winner in the internet search market, leaving Yahoo Search and MSN Search in the lurch, Yahoo Mail is a little ahead of both Gmail and Hotmail. Also, GTalk is giving serious competition to both Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger.

Then, Google made history with its acquisition of DoubleClick for an astronomical $3.1 billion. Now, with its proposed buyout, Microsoft could make history if it does buy Yahoo! for $44.6 billion.

If the acquisition were to happen, it would mean huge competition for Google, no doubt about that. Thanks to the intense competition, both sides will go out of their way to please their customers and retain/expand their market share. In other words, it’s going to be good times for us, customers.

Tags: Android, competition, DoubleClick, Flickr, Gmail, Google, GTalk, Hotmail, internet search, Ludicorp, Marratech, MessageCast Inc, Microsoft, MSN Messenger, MSN Search, photo sharing, Picasa, ScreenTonic, Soapbox, Unified Communications, Where2 Mapping software, Yahoo, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Maps, Yahoo Messenger, Yahoo Search, YouTube

Technorati Tags: Android, competition, DoubleClick, Flickr, Gmail, Google, GTalk, Hotmail, internet search, Ludicorp, Marratech, MessageCast Inc, Microsoft, MSN Messenger, MSN Search, photo sharing, Picasa, ScreenTonic, Soapbox, Unified Communications, Where2 Mapping software, Yahoo, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Maps, Yahoo Messenger, Yahoo Search, YouTube

Categories: Google, All things mobile phones, Yahoo, Microsoft.

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