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AOL Fight Narrows To Two Players
BucksCountyCycleGeek writes "Now that Yahoo! has dropped out of the race to control AOL, the field of contenders has narrowed to Microsoft and Google. While antitrust issues continue to cloud Microsoft's bid, it is getting pretty clear that AOL wants payment in cash and not Internet stock. While Google has worked with AOL in the past, Microsoft's resources dwarf them for the moment." From the CNN/Money article: "Time Warner accepted AOL's stock when the old line media company agreed in 2000 to be purchased by the Internet service provider, a deal that proved a disaster for Time Warner's stock value. Yahoo! executives also had concerns about the valuation Time Warner was seeking and possible difficulties integrating the two businesses after any deal, a person close to Yahoo! told the paper."
M$: I want AOL
Google: Me Too!
"goodbye and hello, as always" ~Prince Corwin, from Zelazny's Amber series
I don't know how odd of a combination it is, but if it goes through Google is going to have to change its motto.
And Yahoo, who says it doesn't want AOL anymore, will come in and snipe the auction when there are 10 seconds left until it ends! The whole sinister plot is finally revealed!