Just when you thought it couldn't get any crazier, MarketingVox reports (via McPaper)that Microsoft is considering the acquisition of eBay. (You know you've got some bucks when you can just buy eBay.)
Microsoft has been in talks for several weeks about a possible acquisition of eBay, reported the New York Post on Friday, citing sources close to the issue. Apparently, Microsoft has considered buying eBay and merging it with MSN in a bid to challenge Google for internet supremacy, but as a result of antitrust concerns the talks have "cooled somewhat," according to the Post.
Moreover, last week eBay and Yahoo announced a strategic advertising and e-commerce alliance that may have dampened the talks as well, though one source has suggested the partnership would not necessarily deter Microsoft from going after eBay.
I've been referring to the recent flurry of news about Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, eBay, et.al. as the "search wars," but I think "portal war" is a more appropriate term. It's a race to own full-service corner of the web, like AOL did back in the 1990's.
Does the adage "You can't be all things to all people" have any significance here here?
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