After Google’s announced purchase of YouTube last week, several people starting asking about who might aquire Facebook. Not me. I began to wonder more about who might acquire Yahoo. As Google grows, Yahoo falls to a more distant second in my Internet dominance book, so it may be time for Yahoo to consider how to gain strength by joining forces with someone else.
VC Fred Wilson is banking on Microsoft stepping up to the Yahoo plate. I can see how the Yahoo brand could help resurrect MSN (Flickr would be a huge gain for Microsoft/MSN), however, I could just as easily foresee Microsoft saying No Thanks and trying to build up by joining with a good quality, lesser brand. Besides, is MSN where Microsoft’s action is going to be?
What about Time Warner/AOL or News Corp or some other large media corporation? Again, all would seem like strong possibilities, however, I’m guessing it’s just as likely that Yahoo would want to remain Bay area independent. If Yahoo slides down in ranking though, I imagine another group of acquisition partners begins to emerge–many international.
I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for anything to happen anytime soon though.