大象传媒

Microhoo: Is it the chase that counts?

• Maggie Shiels
• 7 May 08, 12:43 GMT

You know that feeling of seeing a 'to die for' dress in a shop window that you just have to have? You are convinced it will complete your wardrobe and be a knock out when you put it on. Despite the hideous price tag, you decide what the heck and splash out your hard earned cash.

Hey you deserve it! But come the day, come the hour you go into the shop, try it on, sashay up and down the dressing room and eventually conclude that it isn't really the dream buy you thought it was going to be. You reluctantly leave under a cloud of depression with your money taunting you and burning a hole in your pocket.

Well I think that's how Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer is feeling at the moment.

There he was gung ho like some Wild Western cowboy who said to Yahoo "I like the cut of your jib and to prove how much I really, really want you here is $47.5 billion." Then when his approaches were not warmly embraced he ponyed up to Jerry Yang and said "I'm going to buy you whether or not you like it."

And despite all his bravado and talk about a hostile takeover, Mr Ballmer turns round and says "You know what Yahoo? I'm just not that into you any more."

Well that's how it seems. There is chatter that he vacillated over the blockbuster buy and at times even said to staff at Microsoft "Hey, shall we just can this thing?"

The talk in the Valley is that Mr Ballmer never really made up his mind about the deal. Apparently the more Yahoo resisted the more he went cold. Usually in the game of love it's the chase that counts!

Steve Ballmer did have an erratic approach to courting Jerry Yang and the Yahoo mob. Sometimes he would be flirty and talk up how the company would be the ideal partner for Microsoft. Then other times he acted like a caveman saying if Yahoo didn't get into bed with Microsoft then he would drag them there. So last century Steve!

But Steve Ballmer isn't the only reason this deal went south.

Jerry Yang was sending out all kinds of mixed signals. On the one hand he was all coy and on the other he was saying "Yeah, big guy we can hook up if the price is right." In the end it was all a front. Jerry Yang didn't want to be bought, or should I say, didn't want to be bought by Microsoft.

For many in Silicon Valley, it's a bit like your young hip friend marrying the old bald boring guy down the street. He wants you to pep up his life, and you want him to make you feel warm and secure. Or do you? Are you just toying with him to make another suitor jealous and help boost your stock?

The truth is that in Silicon Valley, Microsoft is the company people slag off, bitch about, moan and make fun of. Yahoo is the one people want to hang out with and go to parties with. They come from two very different cultures.

Meanwhile Steve Ballmer has gone all moody and silent while Jerry Yang has been telling anyone who will listen that it's not his fault the marriage was called of and that life as an independent company is going to be just wonderful from here on in thank you very much.

What of the future though? For Yahoo there are all sorts of hook ups that might come to fruition. From AOL to MySpace and Google.

Meanwhile Steve Ballmer has nearly $50 billion to spend and doesn't seem to know where to spend it. Or does he? Certainly there is one school of thought that as Yahoo's share price plays ping pong and investors turn to lawsuits, Steve Ballmer might just swoop in and pick up the company at a lower price.

And you know even though you thought that dress just didn't cut it at that high price you first saw it for, it's amazing how it recaptures some of its former glow when the 'sale' sign goes on it!