Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Tells Employees: Yahoo Announcement In "Very Short Order"

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Tells Employees: Yahoo Announcement In "Very Short Order"

Steve Ballmer held a Town Hall conference call with Microsoft (MSFT) employees today--reported minute-by-minute by our Vas Sridharan.

Not surprisingly, the topic employees most wanted to talk about was Yahoo. Specifically, why on earth is Microsoft chasing that thing?

Steve's full answer paraphrased below. Here are the key points:

* Nothing to announce today, but should know in "very short order" [suggests negotiations ongoing]
* Won't pay a dime more than Yahoo's worth [but doesn't say what that number is]
* Acknowledges Microsoft is way behind online, invokes Microsoft's previous come-from-behind victories.
* Says Yahoo is "part of a strategy," not the strategy itself. [that's one way to spin it]
* Says the world rooting for Microsoft [in this business, actually true. Fun and ironic]

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