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The attempted acquisition of Yahoo is the big story but in smaller news Microsoft has fortified their mobile software efforts by acquiring Palo Alto based Danger Inc.

Danger is best known for developing T-Mobile’s Sidekick along with software and services that enhance multimedia and web functionality and cell phones. The company was founded by Andy Rubin who is now heading Google’s competitive Android mobile platform project. 

Microsoft’s Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices division, said in a statement that “the addition of Danger serves as a perfect complement to our existing software and services and also strengthens our dedication to improving mobile experiences centered around individuals and what they like.”

As recently as December, Danger was in the process of preparing to go public. Click to Read More

With advice from Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers and Moelis & Company, Yahoo has confirmed the rumors and officially rejected Microsoft’s proposal.  Now,  it’s back to Microsoft to counter, or escalate the possible takeover.

 In a letter to Yahoo staff, which is reprinted below, CEO Jerry Yang explained their logic.

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Just as the writer’s strike seems poised to end, another complex negotiation may be about to get even more intense.  The Wall Street Journal is reporting Yahoo’s Board of Directors is set to reject Microsoft’s $44.6b takeover offer as soon as Monday.

According to the report which cites a “person familiar with the situation” as its source: Yahoo’s board has concluded from initial discussions that Microsoft’s $31 per share offer “massively undervalues” the company.  They believe the offer is an opportunistic effort to take advantage of recent weakness in the stock market, and Yahoo’s stock price in particular.

In what may be a negotiating ploy aimed at raising the price, the Journal’s source notes that the company is unlikely to consider any offer below $40 a share.  That would raise the deal value by more than $12b to more $56b.

If the report proves accurate, Yahoo’s decision will put Microsoft to a difficult decision. Click to Read More

A new effort by the major music labels to distribute their own music online may be in trouble before it even launches.  According to reports circulating Thursday, Sony BMG and Vivendi’s Universal Music Group have both received letters of inquiry from the Department of Justice over their planned “Total Music” service.   (Early reports suggested the other Big 4 labels (EMI and Warner Music) were also contacted but their spokespeople have apparently denied any involvement).

Not a lot is known about what “Total Music” will entail.  The most common theory is that it will be a new breed of music subscription service.  By this theory, unlike current equivalents from Napster and Rhapsody, or the now shuttering Yahoo Music Unlimited, “Total Music” won’t Click to Read More

It’s been a good year for video games and the holidays were especially good for game publisher Activision.  Much like a movie studio with two huge summer blockbusters in the theaters at the same time, Activision’s Guitar Hero and Call of Duty sequels powered the company to record results (thanks, in part, to strong November and December sales.)

In what may be the company’s last earnings report before the completion of their merger with Vivendi Games, Activision reported stellar third quarter results.  This is now the 16th consecutive year that sales are up for the company.

CEO Bobby Kotick said “broader audiences are responding to products like Guitar Hero, and we expect that the demographics for video games will continue to expand.”  He also added in the conference call with analysts that the company, and game industry, are “taking mindshare away from traditional forms of entertainment like movies and television.”

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MTV has been through its share of ups and downs as the original cable TV brand has matured, new offerings launched, and their audience’s preferences adapted to changing entertainment and communication technologies.  Now, MTV will see some change in the executive ranks too.

Christina Norman, president of the cable channel since 2005, and a 17 year veteran of Viacom’s MTV Networks, has resigned.  She will leave at the end of the month.

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YouTube long ago won the popularity contest for user generated video.  Other startups, even some of the same founding generation, have been battling for second place or to just survive.  Some like Grouper, reinvented themselves.   Now, Los Angeles based Revver, one of the earlier competitors, appears poised to bow out of the race entirely.

Citing “sources familiar” CNET’s News.com is reporting that the company is in dire need of cash and may be sold for as little as $300 to $500k plus the assumption of an estimated million dollar debt. A price in that range would represent pennies on the dollar relative to total investment in the company.

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