MS offering to buy Yahoo ???

[meltingrobot]

The Associated Press: Reports: Carl Icahn considering attempt to oust Yahoo board

[bjquinn]

Ugh, here we go again! Is no one at Zimbra going to seriously address this issue?

[gmsmith]

*speaking as Greg the Zimbra user, not moderator*

Seriously dude, what do you want them to "address?" the possibility of someone perhaps maybe considering to attempt to oust the Yahoo board? Really come on...

Personally I would rather keep folks working on the mission to change messaging and collaboration.

[rcom]

>
> Seriously dude, what do you want them to "address?"
>

I don't think it is an unreasonable request considering the last official communique from Zimbra mgt. was almost 3 1/2 months ago:

Satish
2/2/08
To Our Customers

"I will pro-actively communicate as and when I hear something official and tangible."

I dare say Carl Icahn is probably a more formidable force than MS. He's got far less to lose and he could care less what he leaves behind when he's done.

[mikelcu]

Originally Posted by gmsmith

*speaking as Greg the Zimbra user, not moderator*

Seriously dude, what do you want them to "address?" the possibility of someone perhaps maybe considering to attempt to oust the Yahoo board? Really come on...

Personally I would rather keep folks working on the mission to change messaging and collaboration.

The mission seems like it's in serious jeopardy here... This is not "maybe" or "might", there are barbarians at the gate:

Hedge Fund Mogul Paulson Joins Icahn in Yahoo Siege 30% of Proxy Vote in Bag: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance

I've been trying to push Zimbra through at my company for about a year now, and almost the exact day I succeed, Icahn starts this nonsense which brings the entire decision into question again.

I think the big issue is for potential and new customers... We would *really* appreciate some response as to what could happen to Zimbra if MSFT actually ends up devouring YHO. I don't think anyone is harboring illusions of a takeover being a good thing.

What will happen if I buy 150 perpetual licenses now, and a takeover does happen? Can anyone guarantee that development would continue and/or that support would be available?

Can someone explain why I should take that risk? Seriously, I'd really like to do it, but this is a big gamble without some kind of acknowledgment from ZImbra...

-M

[mstreet]

I waited for over 1 year before I installed the OS version of Zimbra in November 2007, then this "situation" pops up late 2007.

Management likes the product, I have the go ahead to purchase the network edition for 100+ users but I will not move forward until we are sure the future of Zimbra is clear with respect to M$.

I think there are many of us on the sidelines waiting to see how this plays out. Unfortunately we all lose while the titans battle it out for power and control.

I really like Zimbra but Kolab is looking better and better.

Originally Posted by mikelcu

The mission seems like it's in serious jeopardy here... This is not "maybe" or "might", there are barbarians at the gate:

Hedge Fund Mogul Paulson Joins Icahn in Yahoo Siege 30% of Proxy Vote in Bag: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance

I've been trying to push Zimbra through at my company for about a year now, and almost the exact day I succeed, Icahn starts this nonsense which brings the entire decision into question again.

I think the big issue is for potential and new customers... We would *really* appreciate some response as to what could happen to Zimbra if MSFT actually ends up devouring YHO. I don't think anyone is harboring illusions of a takeover being a good thing.

What will happen if I buy 150 perpetual licenses now, and a takeover does happen? Can anyone guarantee that development would continue and/or that support would be available?

Can someone explain why I should take that risk? Seriously, I'd really like to do it, but this is a big gamble without some kind of acknowledgment from ZImbra...

-M

[batfastad]

I'm in the same boat as everyone here.
If we're to move away from Exchange (I really really want to), we need the Network Edition for the mobile/remote sync features.

I don't want to move to Zimbra, then find we can't renew our license in 2 years time and have to move everyone over to a different/inferior product. And have to deal with all the inevitable questions... but you could do this with Zimbra, how do you do it now?

We're not big spenders, only 20-25 users, but this really is the best system I've seen.

I'd hate to see all this development work lost.
If I was a developer who had contributed to the open-source version, I would be devastated about this.

Lets think about this for a moment though, would MS actually kill Zimbra off if the buyout were to go ahead?
My gut reaction, yes. It would be munged into some sort of new edition of Exchange.
But by buying Yahoo/Zimbra, all of a sudden MS have gained a foothold in a market where Exchange probably misses out... Education and non-profit markets

I can't believe there's still no word from Zimbra on this.
I'll continue to wait this out

[greenrenault]

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has sent a letter to Yahoo's board announcing he is nominating 10 candidates to replace all incumbent directors at the company's shareholders meeting in July...

"I sincerely hope you heed the wishes of your shareholders and move expeditiously to negotiate a merger with Microsoft, thereby making a proxy fight unnecessary," Icahn wrote in closing the letter.

ITworld.com - Icahn takes on Yahoo board

Bugger.

[In_The_Ville]

The latest:

SEATTLE (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. said Sunday it is talking to Yahoo Inc. about a transaction that doesn't involve a full buyout like the software maker's $47.5 billion offer that fell apart earlier this month.

WBAL Radio - Maryland's NEWS TALK SPORTS Station

[Bill Brock]

Microsoft is even talking about letting Yahoo run MSN.

Ballmer is no fool. Even if they were to buy Yahoo outright, he has no intention of killing the Yahoo culture. He is smart enough to recognize when something works. I believe he even like what he has seen in Zimbra.