Microsoft targets the web with or without Yahoo.

While Microsoft’s acquisition of Yahoo! may have stalled over the last week as Yahoo! holds out for more cash or new suitors, Microsoft is in no mood to roll over to Yahoo! or Google.  Bill Gates says that he’s not raising his bid and the battle is on regardless of how the Yahoo! deal pans out

Last word: Whether Yahoo!’s positioning is simply a tactic to drive up the price or genuine rebuff remains to be seen.  The bottom line is that Yahoo! is definitely in play, speculation will continue until they link up with someone.  Gates is right; the prize is just too great to give up easily.  Though search is already the major chunk of the online ad market, the opportunity it represents is still in its infancy. It’s better for consumers and advertisers if there’s strong Microsoft snapping at Google’s heels

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