Microsoft Trolling for New Acquisitions

NewShinyCD writes "Sources tell Valleywag that startup Ustream.tv is in advanced discussions with Microsoft to acquire the lifecasting service for more than $50 million, but there are other companies in the bidding as well. Ustream is currently raising a very large initial round of VC financing, and Microsoft is attempting to grab them prefunding for a cheap price. Our tipster also mentions that Microsoft would use Ustream as a way to promote its Adobe Flash competitor, Silverlight." Relatedly, Microsoft has also announced their intent to buy Sidekick maker Danger. Financial details of the Danger buyout were not disclosed.

Comments

Re:Copycat

[ArikTheRed]

The best part of this "strategy" is that every division except the office/Windows division, loses money. Which leads me to wonder why they even try. That's not entirely accurate. MS XBox division profited $524M so far the first half of this financial year, and growing (they did lose money in the beginning - no surprise to anyone).

It only takes one success to make up for many failures - that's how VC companies make their money. That's a large part of what MS is: a giant technology VC company. But rather than just invest in other companies, they buy them.

Re:Speaking of Silverlight...

[IGnatius T Foobar]

Do you think MS will make a Siverlight for Linux? Most likely it will have to be done by Mono project and no doubt it will not be 100%

Well known Microsoft supporter Miguel de Icaza is already several steps ahead of you. The Moonlight project is exactly that. And no, I will not install it.

Re:Wow, that's quite a title.

[trolltalk.com]

Also, IIRC, they had something like $60billion in cash on hand last time I paid attention;

You haven't been paying attention in quite a while - they have less than $22B. in cash, and even with offering only half-chas and half-stock,they've said they would probably borrow to finance the deal.

ITYM "trawling"

[aduthie]

"Trolling" would mean they're hanging around crappy discussion forums looking for ways to cheeze people off.

"Trawling" would mean they're out there dragging their nets and fishing lines in hopes of catching something worth keeping.

The former is intentionally pejorative, the latter is simply metaphorical.

Re:Wow, that's quite a title.

[recoiledsnake]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google_acquisitions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_acquired_by_Microsoft_Corporation#2007

I forgot to mention - Xerox, Apple, and Microsoft

[AppleTwoGuru]

Apple, when they got the technology from Xerox Parc, technology that Xerox execs outrightly rejected, Steve Jobs was there to get it, legally and fair. But then Bill Gates stole it. (see Pirates of Silicon Valley) - Justice is not brought on those who slip up with stupidity like Steve Jobs may have done. Justice is brought on to those who break the law. And Bill Gates and co had enough power and politics to slither out of justice being served in the proper way when Apple and Microsoft went to court. Apple had to settle in order to survive. Just because Microsoft came out the victor, does not make Microsoft right or the winner of Justice. There are many court cases in the U.S. where the people lose and the criminals win because, in that case, justice is either corrupt or ignorant.

Re:Speaking of Silverlight...

[miffo.swe]

Why anyone would want to implement silverlight this early on in Linux is beyond me. Mono/Moonlight is helping a closed product to the market with no benefits for the community whatsoever. Not many sites use it and those who do is paid for it.

Miguel de Icaza should just crawl over to MS on hes knees and beg to work there instead of acting as if he cares anything about open source.