Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/08 5:05 a.m.

I'm doubtful that they'd buy AdReady. As much as I like the concept, I'm not entirely convinced it's that hard to replicate and small businesses would prob get a much higher ROI by doing a better job with their search ads before delving in to display.

On the other hand, Marchex might be a interesting consideration given that they seem to be doing something right (I believe they're profitable).

Of course, the other option is to develop a search engine that comes up with relevant results.

Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/08 7:38 a.m.

Agreed. A search engine with relevant results would be a good place to start...

Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/08 8:20 a.m.

marchex makes perfect sense--they have several ad measurement technologies that would play nicely with aquantive, a local ad network of some scale, a contextual ad network called industry brains, an SEM business with tens of thousands of advertisers, and a voice company that marries well to tellme

Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/08 8:39 a.m.

Forget the ad space altogether. It's time that Microsoft to show the long term vision that created their success in the first place. Clearly there are far more valuable, provocative and lucrative problems for technology to solve than consumer spending and entertainment. It's time for the Blue Monster to think bigger thoughts.

Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/08 8:57 a.m.

How about a company like DS-IQ? It's an emerging space with a really solid mgt team that would seem to complement the direction that MSFT is already moving in...

Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/08 10:53 a.m.

They are definately going to buy Earth Class Mail, a member of their accellorator program...mostly due to the brilliance of their CEO as seen in the Start Up Junkies. That man can certainly manage.

Posted by Jason Berg at 5/5/08 11:07 a.m.

Entellium would give Microsoft a decent CRM product rather than the Outlook on steroids approach they've taken to combat locally owned CRM shop Avidian.

If Google and Salesforce.com can make money together, surely Microsoft must respond with something better than Dynamics.

Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/08 1:21 p.m.

Another candidate from the MS Accelerator program is Experticity. They not only offer a strong play in the collaboration space, but can deliver ads right to the point of decision- where consumers are buying in-store and online. Add to this their ability to capture, record and analyze every consumer transaction and MS scores a triple play.

Posted by unregistered user at 5/5/08 1:26 p.m.

right, now each one of you small potatoes, put your company name here and suggest microsoft to buy you.
The most pathetic was one suggested here to buy his Earth grounded Mail. Funny guys

Posted by unregistered user at 5/8/08 11:20 p.m.

To post #125152 - I know that you have got to joking about Earth Class Fail. Ron can't even manage his weight more less people. This will be another company like egov.com that we will be able to watch implode over and over again thanks to the wonderful episodes on MOJO. Hey, but nice try pumping your company.