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Microsoft and Yahoo Discussing Search Partnership

Posted by Soulskill on from the here-we-go-again dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Guardian reports that Microsoft and Yahoo are talking about a search engine partnership as they desperately try to come up with something, anything, to take on Google. 'Although there is no suggestion that Microsoft's failed bid will be resurrected, the two companies are believed to be discussing ways they can link up to combat the growing power of their chief rival, Google. Quoting sources close to the discussions, the authoritative Dow Jones All Things Digital blog said that "the talks between the pair are preliminary and wide-ranging."'"

10 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. first post by FCAdcock · · Score: 2, Insightful

    first post. guess nobody cares about this one.

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    --Forest C. Adcock--
  2. Last! Ummm... wait... by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 4, Insightful

    that doesn't work, does it?

    Anyway, Google started with a search methodology that was dreamed up by two guys in their spare time. Obviously, it was a good one. Still, seems to me that Microsoft and Yahoo, with all their money and competent programmers, simply need to come up with a better one. Otherwise, what else can they bring to the table?

  3. I doubt it will work by Choozy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Google is now synomonous with the internet. It would take an amazing search engine to be able to topple Google's power.

    1. Re:I doubt it will work by Jurily · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Google is now synomonous with the internet.

      Just a quick test: you google something, and nothing comes up. Is your first thought "I need to try another search site" or "I need to check my search terms"?

    2. Re:I doubt it will work by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Google toppled DEC's Altavista. The same thing can happen to them.

      See also: VHS vs. DVD vs. Blu-Ray. Google was much better than AltaVista and people were quick to switch to it. Google isn't perfect, of course, but it's good enough that it'd be hard to make an engine significantly better enough to warrant switching.

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      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    3. Re:I doubt it will work by bit01 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That really depends on what one happens to be searching for. In a lot of cases, yes, it means "I need to try another search engine".

      Every now and then I try other search engines just to make sure I'm not missing anything. They always fail because they:

      1. are too slow.
      2. are overloaded with advertising drivel.
      3. don't find what I'm looking for.
      4. find too many things I'm not looking for.
      5. cover a uselessly small domain.
      6. don't allow expressive search expressions.
      7. make elementary interface errors.
      8. confuse trendiness with usefulness.

      Sometimes all eight. And lets not forget all the internal search engines such as slashdot's. I've yet to come across even a single one that wasn't designed by people with the IQ's of gerbils.

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      Any large public or private organisation paying recurring, per-seat licensing for software is being economically stupid.

  4. Why MS cant compete effectively by Froze · · Score: 5, Insightful

    MS motive: Make money by throwing large amounts of MS branded crap (with some useful stuff) at you and hope your willing to pay to have it cleaned up so you can keep the bits you like.

    Google motive: Make money by throwing large amounts of information at you with some of revenue targeted information you may be interested in.

    Until MS turns it model around and starts giving people what they want first and then cashing in on that association, they won't beat the trend that Google has going, unless Google turns around and start sending you crap first.

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    -- The morphemes of your disquisition are ascertainable, but they have eschewed an ambit of transpicuous exposition.
  5. Re:Last! Ummm... wait... by religious+freak · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That's what I love about IT. All the money in the world won't necessarily beat a persistent and smart person.

    Even if you tie two rocks together, it doesn't mean they'll float. MS and Yahoo need to look into R&D, not merger - this move makes no sense.

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    If you can read this... 01110101 01110010 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100111 01100101 01100101 01101011
  6. To be fair, Yahoo's search engine is good. by blind+biker · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's only very slightly worse than Google, nowadays. Microsoft's, on the other hand, is still crap on a stick, and it's not worth spending time talking about.

    So, returning to Yahoo: at this point, what Yahoo needs is a better image, as the search engine itself, in its core, is fine. And to improve their image, Yahoo might want to tone down the "noise" that their site seems to throw at the users. Also, Yahoo should do a real effort to actually unify all those services inside of "My Yahoo". As it is now, "My Yahoo" is utterly useless, and the various Yahoo services seem to be kept together with spit or nothing. MOstly nothing.

    For an example of the "Yahoo noise" I was talking about, just see Yahoo Messenger. I hate that shit with passion (but am forced to use it 'cause my GF likes it, and is convinced that the "connection is better than with Skype").

    That said, Yahoo services are less "noisy" than Hotmail and the resto of MSN.

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    "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
  7. Politically incorrect view... by retech · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It would appear, to me, this is similar to the class bully and that kid who should be on the short bus getting together in an effort to win the science fair competition.

    While it works in 80's movies with a mediocre soundtrack for the montage scene, I'm at a loss as to how John Hughes would resolve this in the final act.