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Microsoft Trolling for New Acquisitions

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the playing-catch-up dept.

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.

1 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. Should msft buy Intuit? by walterbyrd · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Intuit probably owns at least 80% of the SMB financial software market. By some counts, Intuit owns 92% of that market.

    I think msft may be in somewhat of a price war with intuit right now, but it is not helping msft. I think msft's quickbooks competitor is selling for around $150, but it looks like intuit has dropped the price of quickbooks to about $130. I think quickbooks used to cost around $500.

    I see no way for msft to steal the market from intuit. Intuit is too well established, there is a huge network of Intuit "ProAdvisors" and Intuit developers, and thousands of quickbooks add-ons available.

    This is a market that msft wants, and msft is not able to get it.