Microsoft+Yahoo - Some Thoughts on Possible Implications

Some first thoughts about the implications of Microsoft taking over Yahoo:

• Microsoft’s Vista Gadgets suck. Yahoo has it going pretty well with its widgets that work on many platforms other than Vista.
  Maybe Microsoft will drop Gadgets and support widgets natively?
• Yahoo Messenger is already integrated with Microsoft’s messenger. And its .NET and has a cool new WPF interface. Maybe it can replace buggy Microsoft Messenger.
• Synergy in Live Services:
  • Microsoft Popfly and Yahoo Pipes (Popfly has things to learn from Pipes)
  • Yahoo’s small business services + Office Live (and CRM live, etc.)
  • Online gaming. Microsoft has its gaming studios and Xbox Live! and Yahoo is big on fantasy sports. There’s room for synergy there…
    Yahoo’s online games could be a nice addition to Microsoft’s casual gaming platform.
  • Yahoo Finance to join Microsoft Live Services and take on Google Finance?

Lots of synergy opportunities out there… I can see why Microsoft+Yahoo makes perfect sense…