Microsoft

Microsoft Adds Video Feature to Messenger Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 12, 2008 - 1:06pm.

London - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) has launched Messenger TV, a new video feature for its instant messenger application currently available in 20 European countries. Users can send one another up to four-minute-long video clips from providers including Reuters, Channel 4 and EMI and chat while watching the videos.

Zune MP3 Player Market Share Up to 4%; Creative Drops to 2%

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 12, 2008 - 11:12am.

Los Angeles - Microsoft's (NASD: MSFT) Zune digital media player gained a bit of the MP3 player market share in NPD Group's latest rankings, now accounting for 4% of the total market, up from 3% in the first quarter of 2007, Wired.com reported.

Microsoft Pays "Zune Bonus" to Indie Digital Distributors

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 8, 2008 - 12:09pm.

Los Angeles - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) recently doled out one-time bonus checks to independent digital music distributors including The Orchard (NASD: ORCD) and IODA, apparently to balance out the reported $1 per Zune sold it has granted to major labels including Universal Music Group, Hypebot reported. Both distributors plan to share the revenue with their label and artist partners.

Microsoft, Hyundai-Kia to Develop In-car Infotainment Systems

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 6, 2008 - 12:08pm.

Seoul, South Korea - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) announced on Tuesday that it has signed a long-term agreement with Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group to co-develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems. The first product based on the Microsoft Auto software platform, which will provide voice-controlled connectivity between mobile devices, is scheduled for release in North America in 2010.

Microsoft Adds TV Shows from NBC, Others to Zune Web Store

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 6, 2008 - 10:48am.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) announced on Tuesday that it has added more than 800 downloadable TV show episodes from NBC Universal (NYSE: GE), Viacom (NYSE: VIA), Time Warner (NYSE: TWX), Liberty Media (NASD: LINTA) and other providers to the online store for its Zune portable media player. Notable in the deal is NBC Universal's inclusion, as the company's programs disappeared from Apple's iTunes Store in December following disputes over pricing and bundling. "Partnering with Zune will allow us to develop innovative content offerings for their customers, including flexible pricing and packaging options beginning this fall," said JB Perrette, president of NBC Universal Digital Distribution.

All Things D On Microhoo Backlash and Backpedaling

Authored by Jay Baage on May 6, 2008 - 10:37am.

I think it's pretty interesting to see how this one plays out... Good vlog from John Paczkowski at All Things Digital today about the whole Microsoft/Yahoo deal debacle.

Is Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang Right To Reject Microsoft's $37.5 Billion Offer?

Authored by Jay Baage on May 5, 2008 - 7:46am.

WSJ: AOL Could Emerge Winner of Failed Microsoft-Yahoo Deal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 5, 2008 - 7:43am.

New York - AOL (NYSE: TWX) could emerge as the big winner of this weekend's failed mega-deal between Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) and Yahoo (NASD: YHOO), with both companies potentially seeking to acquire the Time Warner unit in their efforts to better compete with Internet ad leader Google, The Wall Street Journal reported. "Both companies may turn their attention to the struggling Internet business, providing Time Warner Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes with a possible exit strategy," The Journal reported.

Microsoft Abandons Three-Month Battle, Drops Bid for Yahoo

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 5, 2008 - 7:37am.

Redmond, Wash. - Shares of Yahoo (NASD: YHOO) fell 15% by late Monday, two days after Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) withdrew its $47.5 billion takeover bid for the company. A deal, which had been more than three months in the making, appeared to be close to fruition last week, when Microsoft agreed to raise its offer by $4 a share -- roughly $5 billion -- to $33 a share. According to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, however, Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang rejected the deal, insisting the offer be raised to at least $37 a share.

New York Times: Microsoft Increases Bid for Yahoo

Authored by Ned Sherman on May 2, 2008 - 10:39am.

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Hoping to avoid a messy proxy battle, Microsoft has increased its bid for Sunnyvale-based Yahoo by "several dollars," The New York Times reported on its web site late Friday. Specific financial terms being discussed have not been disclosed, though Microsoft reportedly has raised the possibility of increasing its current $29.30-per-share offer to as much as $33.

Microsoft Popfly Introduces Casual Game Creator Alpha

Authored by Jay Baage on May 2, 2008 - 8:47am.
Redmond - VA - Microsoft today announced Popfly Game Creator for Silverlight to compete with Adobe’s popular flash format.
tags: Games | Microsoft | Popfly |

Google's Priority: Make Some Money Off YouTube

Authored by Paul Sweeting on April 30, 2008 - 10:50am.
It's a good thing Google makes so much money from its core business of placing text ads next to search results, because it's still searching for the special sauce on its other big initiatives. Google CEO Eric Schmidt told CNBC's Maria Bartiromo in an interview that aired today (transcript) that the company groping for ways to monetize the enormous traffic and reach of YouTube (although it has a new, secret plan that will roll out later this year), and for a working advertising model for social networks.

Report: Justice Dept. Investigating Yahoo-Google Ad Deal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 24, 2008 - 8:37am.

Washington - The Justice Department is investigating whether an advertising tie-up between Yahoo (NASD: YHOO) and Google (NASD: GOOG) violates antitrust laws, Reuters reported. Under a two-week test, scheduled to end this week, Yahoo is using Google's online ad system to provide relevant ads alongside its search results.

MSN Music Customers to Lose Access to Songs on New Devices

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 23, 2008 - 10:12am.

Redmond, Wash. - As a result of Microsoft shuttering its MSN Music store in favor of its Zune Marketplace, the company has told MSN Music customers that the licenses for the songs they purchased can be updated for the last time up until Aug. 31 -- after which time the songs cannot ever again be transferred from the devices on which they are currently stored, according to reports.

Will There Be a Microsoft and Yahoo Deal?

Authored by Jay Baage on April 23, 2008 - 5:49am.

In this video, Kara Swisher of All Things D asks some tech people at a party in San Fran about what they think will happen between Microsoft and Yahoo! after the MS bid expires this Saturday. The answers are kinda interesting, but the highlight to me is when Kara confronts one of the tech guys wearing a Jawbone Bluetooth Headset: "What is that, an anti-dating device, a female repellent?"

Report: Google Retains Top Spot in Global Brand Rankings

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 21, 2008 - 9:14am.

London - Google (NASD: GOOG) once again claimed the top spot in market research firm Millward Brown's annual list of the top 100 most powerful brands, beating out other leading brands like GE/NBC Universal (NYSE: GE), Apple (NASD: AAPL) and Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) for the honor for the third year in a row. The report estimated Google's value at $86 billion, up 30% on a year ago; second-place General Electric's brand value was estimated at $71.4 billion.

Report: Despite Economy, U.S. Game Sales Up 57% in March

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 18, 2008 - 8:50am.

Port Washington, N.Y. - Bypassing the current troubles in the overall economy, U.S. video game sales hit $1.7 billion in March, up 57% from a year ago on strong sales of Nintendo's Wii and "Super Smash Bros. Brawl," according to industry sales data compiled by market research firm NPD Group. "You'd never know that the U.S. economy was under distress by looking at the video games industry sales figures," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier.

Microsoft Limited Edition Zune to Feature Joy Division Art

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 17, 2008 - 11:52am.

Chicago - Microsoft has partnered with Genius Entertainment to offer a limited edition Zune digital media player that will feature classic artwork from legendary U.K. band Joy Division's album "Unknown Pleasures," Pitchfork reported. The occasion for the promotion is the June 10 DVD release of "Control," a documentary about the band by Grant Gee to be released by Genius Entertainment.

Report: Following Test, Yahoo Seeks Ad Deal with Google

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 17, 2008 - 8:55am.

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Following what is said to have been a successful week-long test, Yahoo (NASD: YHOO) is now seeking to partner with Google (NASD: GOOG) to provide ads alongside its search results, the Wall Street Journal reported. The tie-up with Google would be a key element to a prospective deal where Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) would merge with Yahoo, and take a stake in the company, according to Reuters.

Madonna to Webcast NYC Club Show Live on MSN Music

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 16, 2008 - 11:57am.

New York - A rare club performance by Madonna scheduled for April 30 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York will be webcast live by Microsoft's (NASD: MSFT) MSN Music to U.S. users, and to the rest of the world on May 15, Billboard reports. The artist's Icon fan club has also added social networking components, including a $40 platinum membership that offers exclusive concert pre-sales and other goodies.