Before Yahoo handed over their search engine and search ads to Microsoft, Microsoft actually made several bids to buy Yahoo. Yahoo, under founder Jerry Yang, rejected those bids time and time again.
Ultimately, under Carol Bartz, Yahoo made a deal with Microsoft for Yahoo to give up on their own search technology, let Microsoft power and control that, for ad income and reduced cost on running a search engine.
Now, there are rumors via the Wall Street Journal, Kara Swisher and others that Yahoo is putting themselves out there for bidders.
AOL Inc. and several private-equity firms are exploring making an offer to buy Yahoo Inc., according to people familiar with the matter, devising a bold plan to marry two big Internet brands facing steep challenges.Silver Lake Partners and Blackstone Group LP are among the firms that have expressed interest in teaming up with AOL to buy Yahoo or trying to take it private on their own, these people said. They added that at least two or three other firms could be interested in participating if a formal buyout proposal is drawn up.
Prior, I was never for it. But now, heck, Yahoo go for it. What do you have to lose now, at least on the search side. :)
Forum discussion at Google Blogoscoped Forums & WebmasterWorld.
