Microsoft's past high profile acquisitions

The recent Microsoft's offer of USD 44.6 billion to Yahoo! on the Feb 1, 2008 is the largest megadeal done by Microsoft so far to buy established businesses. Traditionally, Microsoft performed smaller deals to acquire technology when it comes to acquisition.

Among the past other high profile acquisitions are: (in USD)

• 1997 - WebTV Network ($425 million) - Internet TV and online shopping.
• 1998 - Hotmail ($400 million) - web-based email
• 1999 - Visio ($1.3 billion) - diagramming software
• 2001 - Great Plains ($1.1 billion) - accounting software maker [accounting, payroll and online transactions]
• 2002 - Navision ($1.33 billion) - HR, accounting and customer relationship software
• 2007 - Tellme ($800 million) - speech recognition maker
• 2007 - Aquantive ($6 billion) - Internet advertising firm
• 2008 - Fast ($1.2 billion) - enterprise search market

For more information, read this article - CNet News.com: Microsoft's acquisition track record

What is the next acquisition? Yahoo! has rejected the super megadeal bid by Microsoft. Do you think it will bid for Google?

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