MICROSOFT

Skype users were relieved after receiving strange error messages from Microsoft security products over the past week, after Microsoft admitted that it was a mistake.

Microsoft chief said on Wednesday that the firm was ready to abandon its $43.6 billion bid for Yahoo in case both companies fail to agree on a price.

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said on Wednesday he is willing to walk away from a merger with Internet portal Yahoo if shareholders don't accept his company's $44.6 billion offer.

Yahoo Inc.'s first-quarter performance was a little like Goldilocks' favorite soup _ not too hot and not too cold, and that has set the table for a bitter battle over Microsoft Corp.'s bid to take over the Internet pioneer.

Microsoft started testing its new way of selling Office software suite on a subscription basis using the new program that it launched on Friday, which involves packaging the Office suite with security software and free online services.

Microsoft has released what will likely be its last major update for Windows XP, announcing it has released it Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to manufacturing channels.

Internet giant Yahoo announced a profit for the first quarter that more than tripled from last year, but most of the one-time gain was from its stake in Chinese business-to-business Web site Alibaba.

Google was ranked the world's most powerful brand for the second time, after the firm dominated the online advertisement industry across the globe.

Microsoft and Novell revealed their plans capture the Chinese market by taking their patent-protected and open-source programs business to the region.

An earnings windfall for Google Inc should benefit rival Yahoo Inc in buyout talks with Microsoft Corp, as investors view the results as proof of a robust online advertising market.Yahoo is enterin...

U.S. retail sales of video games soared by 57 percent to $1.7 billion in March led by Nintendo's games and systems.Video game hardware and software sales, in March, were $1.7 billion with Nint...

Microsoft Corp. has yet to convince Yahoo Inc. to agree to a friendly takeover, but the software company is already hiring lobbyists to help it convince regulators to let the deal hostile if it has t...

Salesforce.com Inc. and Google announced today an alliance to integrate Google's applications to Salesforce's software for managing sales service, the companies said.

Microsoft and Inrix launched services that will help drivers avoid long traffic lines by providing data for example about side streets.

Microsoft is the most likely suitor to merge with Yahoo, analysts contend, as several deals now vie for the Internet giant's future. Sending a clear signal that it intends to pursue all options, the search leader has solicited alternate deals, including a possible merger with AOL, or partnership with arch-rival Google.

Yahoo is about to close a deal for combining its operations with Time Warner Inc.'s AOL unit in effort to contend Microsoft's $44.6 billion takeover offer.

Microsoft entered the European health care market starting with offering Amalga health care software.

Yahoo Inc., the target of a hostile takeover bid by Microsoft Corp., is in the eye of a storm of potential deals involving the some of the biggest players in technology and media including Google Inc., News Corp. and Time Warner Inc.

Yahoo Inc. may be near an announcement that it will carry search web search advertising from Google Inc., according to a report released Wednesday.

Chinese Internet firm Alibaba is speeding up the buyback of its stake owned by Yahoo Inc, as Microsoft Corp threatens to go hostile with a lower bid for Yahoo.

Senior executives at Microsoft and Yahoo met this week to discuss their proposed merger but did not get anywhere with the talks, the Wall Street Journal said on its Web site, citing people familiar with the matter.