Sign In
SHARE
The Latest Microsoft-Google Front: Verizon
Sam Gustin writes: Now that Microsoft has apparently moved on from Yahoo, the software giant is looking for new avenues to attack Google, its arch-enemy. The latest battlefront is mobile search, and the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Microsoft is close to securing a major strategic beachhead.
If consummated, the deal would represent a 180-degree about-face for Verizon Wireless, which just three months ago was said to be close to handing Google the right to become the default search provider on Verizon Wireless phones.
Although Google's search engine is much more popular than Microsoft's offering, the software giant is hoping to win the business the old fashioned way: with cold, hard cash.
Microsoft has apparently doubled Google's bid for the Verizon mobile search contract, by offering guaranteed payments of $550 million to $650 million over five years, doubling Google's offer, according to the paper.
In addition, Microsoft is talking with Verizon about a deal to put the software giant's Windows Mobile operating system on more Verizon phones. The paper says the two deals could be worth over $1 billion.
In August, Verizon was close to a mobile search deal with Google, a pact which seemed to represent a thawing in Verizon's relationship with Google. The two companies have sparred repeatedly over network neutrality and the rules governing the F.C.C.'s wireless spectrum auction earlier this year, which Verizon won.
With no love lost between Verizon and Google, the cell-phone giant may be more than happy to take Microsoft's offer all the way to the bank. Google definitely has the cash, but does it have the appetite to top Microsoft's bid?
Loading...
Thank you for registering as a Portfolio.com Insider. Your comment has been added.
Create Your Public Profile
- Last Bytes: Next Up, CES
- Jan 7 2009 5:18PM EST
- 60 Million Want Their DTV and Can't Get It
- Jan 7 2009 12:43PM EST
- First Bytes: The New Madoff
- Jan 7 2009 9:26AM EST
- Last Bytes: Apple Happenings
- Jan 6 2009 5:27PM EST
- Apple Plans for iTunes: Signs of Retreat?
- Jan 6 2009 1:40PM EST
- Comcast Mends Its Ways
- Jan 6 2009 12:15PM EST
- First Bytes: Digital TV Conversion Holdup
- Jan 6 2009 8:25AM EST
- Last Bytes: Hacked in 140 Characters or Less
- Jan 5 2009 5:07PM EST
- The Sorry State of Videogames
- Jan 5 2009 2:20PM EST
- Adobe's "Flash Lite" Coming to TV
- Jan 5 2009 10:04AM EST
- Steve Jobs Speaks Out on His Health
- Jan 5 2009 9:55AM EST
- First Bytes: Trade Show Hullabaloo
- Jan 5 2009 8:46AM EST
- Last Bytes: Mogul Feud, Zune Mystery
- Dec 31 2008 2:17PM EST
- On To a New Year
- Dec 31 2008 2:10PM EST
- Creative Commons Flourishing in Recession
- Dec 31 2008 11:59AM EST
Archive
Categories
Links
- Mark Cuban's blog
- TechCrunch
- GigaOM
- Engadget
- USA TODAY Tech
- Romenesko
- BuzzTracker Tech
- Roger McGuinn's Folk Den
- Maney's band on MySpace
- Spiedies, mmmm
- Somewhat Frank's tech conference list
- Tom Foremski
- Fred Wilson
- Pandora
- SciTech Daily
- Todd Bishop's Microsoft Blog
- Steven Johnson
- The Long Tail
- paidContent
- John Battelle's SearchBlog
- Marc Andreessen
- Kevin's site
- Kevin Maney & His Briefs on CD Baby
Mobile