This news is hitting the internet pretty rapidly. Microsoft have offered to buy Yahoo! for $44.6 billion! This move is to try and bolster Microsoft’s position in the online services market in its continuing battle with Google. In some aspects, this move can be seen as a shock, but in others, it isn’t, after all, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger users have been able to talk to each other for quite some time now. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and what it offers. I’m sure there will be many more discussions on this to come.

Microsoft Corp. is offering $44.6 billion in cash and stock for search engine operator Yahoo Inc. in a move to boost its competitive position in the online services market.
The unexpected announcement Friday comes as Microsoft, the world’s biggest software company, seeks new ways to compete more effectively against the search and online advertising powerhouse Google Inc.

News source: MSNBC NEWS

The software giant is looking to hire a technical evangelist for Windows Seven. That sounds like a really good idea to me. But Microsoft had better hire someone who can be more thought leader than mouthpiece—a straight talker who can generate genuine enthusiasm while setting realistic expectations. Longhorn really hurt Microsoft’s credibility. In early 2004, Microsoft started breaking feature promises made in late 2003—and the broken promises continued through 2005, as Microsoft dumped more and more Longhorn (aka Windows Vista) features.

The Windows Seven evangelist needs to sell benefits while not overstating them. In fact, Microsoft needs someone who can sell aspiration around limited benefits so that people can get excited about the product and the company can deliver more than promised later on. People buy things because they want to be happy, to believe their lives will be better from the purchase. Apple sells aspiration so well, and Microsoft needs to, too. The shoes are mighty big. Maybe Microsoft should call on the Friendly Giant. The job posting is dated Dec. 11, 2007, but Microsoft hasn’t yet filled the position. It’s a big, big job.

View: The full story @ MS-Watch