'Microsoft - Yahoo merger': What services will become extinct?

Although the possibility of a super merger between Microsoft and Yahoo is still far away, analysts say "It is not without foundation".

The question now is if the real merger, between the two services, products or similar technologies of the two firms, which will survive and which ones will be eliminated.

1. MSN.com and Yahoo.com

Microsoft's online face includes MSN.com and Windows Live, but the latter is more about search.

MSN's front line is aimed at two key Microsoft "resources", MSN Messenger and Hotmail, and also My MSN and MSN Directory. Meanwhile, Yahoo's home page directs users to email applications, accompanied by a variety of "columns", very broad categories like Geocities, Yahoo Groups, Yahoo Music, Yahoo Personals.

Both MSN.com and Yahoo.com allow users to customize and edit the interface according to their preferences and preferences through the My MSN and Yahoo Personals features.

As for the standard version, it is easy for anyone to see the effort of reporting. However, Yahoo is inclined to believe the world news, while MSN emphasizes the analysis and depth.

Figures: Yahoo and Microsoft are all in the "Top" category for online websites, with 108 million and 95 million unique visitors respectively in March. (Google attracted 108 million people during this period). Yahoo's annual revenue is 6.4 billion USD, and MSN revenue is about 4 billion USD.

Impact of the merger : Not significant. Most of the content (not including reports, analysis, comments) that appear on the Yahoo homepage can also be found on MSN, for example, the Spider-Man series 3. If unfortunately merged, and a site completely replaces the site, you can still read familiar content. Because there is no reason for administrators to remove some of the existing content.

2. Yahoo Search and Windows Live Search

Source: Reuters Search is the most important part of the merger. According to comScore data, together with Yahoo and MSN accounted for about 38.4% of the US search market share in March, still far behind Google's 48.3% market share.

Yahoo's search services remind people of Google: "Web", "image", and "local" . Yahoo also searches videos, but MSN does not. Instead, MSN applies an experimental feature called "Q&A", where users can ask questions for other users to answer.

Microsoft uses the Live Search search engine developed by the company, whereby relevant information will be placed on the search results. For example, if you type in the keyword "baseball", it will show the score table before listing the link.

Impact of the merger : A civil war. It seems that Microsoft is moving towards injecting more content into users' faces, while Yahoo aims to streamline and centralize search engines.

This means that if the merger happens, the new executive will have to decide whether to choose one of the two directions above. PC Mag guessed that Microsoft would "win" in this round and remove Yahoo Search from the war. But anyway, Google is still on.

3. MSN Web Messenger with Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger

Microsoft is hurting itself by brand complexity. Web Messenger is a Webmail version of IM, while Windows Live Messenger is a standalone application.

Yahoo Messenger allows sharing files, sharing photos, viewing Webcam and making free phone calls. This program also accepts third-party plug-in utilities. For my part, in addition to the features provided by Yahoo, Windows Live Messenger also adds SMS and notifications when users have new messages.

Impact of the merger : No stress. If Yahoo and Microsoft merge, it is likely that the above IM services will connect directly to each other.

Based on the level of aggressiveness of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, he is likely to demand the promotion of Microsoft's brand. If so, it would be a big mistake, because Yahoo Messenger outperforms both Microsoft services, as well as Google Talk.

4. Hotmail and Yahoo Mail

The reason Google 's Gmail service was born and quickly succeeded was because both Yahoo and Hotmail proved to be cunning when they joined the email market. These two services are "boisterous" in adding new features, as well as expanding the capacity of free mailboxes.

It wasn't until Gmail shocked the market with a free 2 GB mailbox, Yahoo and Hotmail were "disappointed". Yahoo was more aggressive when it came to major surgery, but again, the interface and features for Yahoo Mail, while Hotmail was still like a tired old man. All three Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo Mail services have spam filters and automatic virus scanning (though not very effective).

Impact of the merger : Not significant. Users are always attached to the email addresses they are used to, whether merged or not merged, that habit has not changed. Unless a shocking change (for example, claiming to increase the free mailbox capacity to . 20GB) can make a difference.

5. Content

Content that Yahoo is providing includes Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo! Music, Yahoo Movies, Yahoo News and Yahoo Games. They are compiled from many different sources, including Ziff-Davids, partner news agencies.

MSN also has a very deep content surface, thanks to shaking hands with MSNBC cable network and Slate magazine.

Impact of the merger : An iceberg will appear. It is true that most of the iceberg is still underwater, but remember that both Yahoo and MSN hide their vast majority of content from the main page. Based on the number of current users, it seems that Yahoo outperforms MSN: designing a more streamlined interface (less forcing viewers to hover down the screen).

6. Mobile: Yahoo Mobile and MSN Mobile

Microsoft has a WAP port at mobile.live.com, where they integrate Hotmail, Messenger, Spaces, Local, etc. - but still in an old, outdated format anyway.

Yahoo! Go is more advanced by providing a wide range of integrated applications that are both powerful and flashy to different devices. These are all colorful, highly customizable applications and interesting uses.

Both MSN Mobile and Yahoo Mobile offer search services for local information and customized functions. On March 20, Yahoo attempted to release "OneSearch", a "quick response" feature: providing more practical information than just listing search results. Yahoo claims more than 100 million phones, equivalent to 85% of the current mobile market, can access OneSearch.

However, the dinosaur must really be Windows Mobile with the position of dominating smartphone in the US. But it is undeniable that Yahoo pursues a broader mobile policy than Microsoft, actively supporting Symbian-based phones. Remember outside the US, Symbian is unbelievably popular.

Impact after the merger : Microsoft takes over. Yahoo has great products and ideas, but they are still lacking a talented captain to steer the ship.

7. Advertising: Yahoo Search Marketing and Microsoft AdCenter

Yahoo! Search Marketing offers services such as Sponsored Search, local advertising and Product / Travel Contacts that allow businesses to advertise their products / services on Yahoo's network.

Yahoo! Publisher Network is an advertising tool for online content providers. Yahoo's advertising network was upgraded in May last year, adding a number of new features such as running test ads, predicting campaign effectiveness, etc.

Microsoft's adCenter platform also offers similar features, but is more customizable. Microsoft has acquired DeepMetrix, a private company that provides Web analytics and enterprise intelligence tools to increase advertising effectiveness.

Impact of the merger : Replace products. The US market was relatively saturated, both Yahoo and Microsoft sought to expand their advertising network across the ocean, as well as on devices such as mobile phones and Xbox. However, let's face the truth: Google text ads are still dominant.

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