Microsoft should consider putting its search-advertising endeavors on the back burner for now and attempt an end run at Google by trying to become a leader in the display-, video-, and mobile-advertising markets, where no company is a clear leader yet

When Yahoo announced its Y OS (Yahoo Open Strategy) last week, it offered a vision that, if realized, could give back the company the mojo it lost several years ago. With Y OS, Yahoo pledges to open all its sites, online services and Web applications to outside developers, and give users a "social profile"

Microsoft's offer Friday to buy Yahoo for $44.6 billion in cash and shares put a turbulent end to a heavy earnings week in which forecasts from Internet leaders worried IT investors. Internet leaders Google, Yahoo, and Amazon and a host of high-profile technology vendors this week reported fourth-quarter sales and generally muted forecasts for

Microsoft's $44.6 billion offer to purchase Yahoo is a dramatic statement from a company that delayed acknowledging the importance of emerging Web ... for the company. If Microsoft is willing to spend that much money, it also has to be willing to change