Some Yahoo! Users Annoyed Over Microsoft's Bid!

While Microsoft keeps its fingers crossed and Yahoo! evaluates the offer from the Redmond giant, some Yahoo! Users have expressed their anguish at the deal.

Several members of the Yahoo! Groups and Flickr expressed that the takeover would change the very fabric of Yahoo!'s services. Most said that they considered quitting the services altogether or worse switch to Goliath Google.

There was an online petition floated by Flickr users doing the rounds with stated that, "Microsoft: Keep your evil grubby hands off our Flickr." Apparently the number of members ran in about 2000 or so. But FYI this is not the first time that Flickr users have expressed their disapproval as around three years back similar was their response when Yahoo purchased Flickr.

If Yahoo! users are unhappy, no matter how small the number, Microsoft may have to tread the path of acquisition quite carefully. Yahoo's early success had inspired a fan following for the company and Microsoft might have to make attempts to retain the unique Yahoo! culture to woo the fan following. One of the things that may have contributed to the resentment is that Microsoft's bid is being seen as “Hostile,” by some. So there might be a lot of communication work to be done by the Redmond giant to pour oil over troubled waters.

Analysts feel that that Yahoo! community likes to stay loyal and are concerned about the fate of the popular Yahoo! service which have a huge following (viz. Web properties, including e-mail, photo sharing, etc.)

A member of a Yahoo mail users group, said, "MS will take apart the company so fast that they'll leave everyone's head spinning,…I can't recall any company they bought and was left alone after the transaction."

While Microsoft's takeover of Yahoo!'s would bring to the merger numerous online services, hitherto owned by Yahoo!, but with possible exodus of users, and that too to Google could be a matter of concern for Microsoft. Analysts, feel that communication is the anecdote and Microsoft should come crystal with what it is going to do with Yahoo! after the acquisition.

While there has been a word from Microsoft about how the integration is going to proceed, when Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft's Platforms and Services Division said in an interview recently, "The Yahoo brand is a great brand and as part of this integration process, we're going to get leaders from Microsoft and Yahoo that are going to make thoughtful decisions, not only around the technology integration, but the user experiences and the brands," there perhaps needs to be more reassurance.

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