Microsoft Vs. Apple Vs. Google [Tactical Partnerships and Eternal Rivalries]

Google launches Nexus-One, a stylish touchscreen smartphone intended to compete Apple's iPhone.

Apple launches aggressive 'iMac' campaign against Microsoft's “PC”.

Google launches Google Apps, Offline Gmail and Android to make inroads in Microsoft's core businesses of enterprise applications – Microsoft Office, Outlook and Windows operating systems respectively.

Microsoft launches Bing and signs partnership with Yahoo to complete Google's core web ad business.

Apple refuses to to approve two Google apps for sale of iphone.

Apple CEO Eric Schmidt held seat on Apple's board of directors. Resigned in August 2009.
Apple to build partnership with Microsoft to replace Google as default search engine [BusinessWeek – Jan 20, 2010]

© Rohit Deshpande

$33 - $13.96 = ???

"To this day, I believe the best thing for Microsoft to do is to buy Yahoo" - Jerry Yang, CEO of Yahoo, just few hours after Google walked away from ad-search deal with Yahoo.

Yahoo traded as high as $28 back when Microsoft made offer of $33. Microsoft walked away since Yang insisted on $37 that time. Today Yahoo closed at $13.96.

Now that’s maximizing value for shareholders ... of course those of Microsoft!!