??? What article did you read?
1) Yahoo will JUMP at this opportunity.
2) Microsoft will absolutely revamp and integrate Yahoo into the desktop, allow it a vehicle to take on Google
I disagree that Yahoo will immediately jump at the opportunity. I know the company has been down, but I could see them using this bid to create a bidding war between Google & MSFT.
As for integration, Microsoft is TERRIBLE at integrating its acquisitions. It has one of 2 MOs when it comes to integrations: 1) Blow up the acquired company except for the IP which it integrates along with choice employees, or 2) Keep the acquired company intact as a wholly owned "subsidiary" and have it act as an independent department of the larger company. MSFT has been very smart in this regard because merger integration, particularly among tech companies, is incredibly costly and has a very high failure rate.
I cannot think of a deal where Microsoft actually bought another company and completely integrated the IP and the employees.
Yahoo has been a poorly run company for several years now- and while this deal looks great from a technology development standpoint I think it's going to be a huge challenge from an organization and integration standpoint.
I don't see this deal alone helping MS catch google b/c they could at least a year or two trying to puzzle piece the two companies together.
