Need Any More Proof Why Microsoft Wants to Back Up the Money Truck to Verizon Wireless?
by Kara Swisher
Posted on November 21, 2008 at 5:30 AM PT
Here is an amazing chart from a story in The Wall Street Journal recently about mobile phone search preferences, which says a whole lot about why Microsoft (MSFT) is so eager to hand a pile of money over to Verizon Wireless (VZ) to become the default search on its many devices.
Well, as in the PC market and on social-networking sites, because of–wait for it–Google (GOOG), of course.
According to another Journal story recently:
“Under the terms now being considered, Microsoft would share revenue with Verizon from ads shown in response to cellphone Web searches, with guaranteed payments to the carrier of approximately $550 million to $650 million over five years, or roughly twice what Google offered, these people said.”
Why so much of a premium, especially since the widgetization of smartphones makes it easier for all players to compete?
The chart tells the tale:
Please see this disclosure related to me and Google.
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Comments
Heaven forbid customers of these companies should ever have to think for themselves and make a choice.
Posted by Mac Beach at November 21st, 2008 at 10:39 amIndeed. We call the cell phone companies “The Soviet Ministries” here at ATD (a Walt Mossberg original).
Posted by Kara Swisher at November 21st, 2008 at 7:35 pm