Google on the Yahoo/Microsoft Deal

Google isn't happy - here's a snippet:

Could Microsoft now attempt to exert the same sort of inappropriate and illegal influence over the Internet that it did with the PC? While the Internet rewards competitive innovation, Microsoft has frequently sought to establish proprietary monopolies -- and then leverage its dominance into new, adjacent markets. Could the acquisition of Yahoo! allow Microsoft -- despite its legacy of serious legal and regulatory offenses -- to extend unfair practices from browsers and operating systems to the Internet? In addition, Microsoft plus Yahoo! equals an overwhelming share of instant messaging and web email accounts. And between them, the two companies operate the two most heavily trafficked portals on the Internet. Could a combination of the two take advantage of a PC software monopoly to unfairly limit the ability ofconsumers to freely access competitors' email, IM, and web-based services? Policymakers around the world need to ask these questions -- and consumers deserve satisfying answers.

Google bids on Yahoo!

No, they haven't, and I doubt they will. Google's competition is not really Yahoo or Microsoft. It would be Ask, except Ask is old and it's too hard for them to get new users.

If Microsoft buys Yahoo, they'll probably screw up on search, and that will leave lots of room for a newcomer

Google will save their money, and when the next search king comes out of the woodwork, they will buy it. And then either integrate it, use parts of it, or bury it.

(It won't be Wikia, but it will be something like it...)