Microsoft’s Outlook takes aim at Google’s Gmail

SOURCE: http://technology.inquirer.net/23151/microsofts-outlook-takes-aim-at-googles-gmail

A woman looks at a computer site on November 30, 2012 in Washington, DC. – Just in time for the holidays, Microsoft and Google have become embroiled in a bitter dispute over who is the fairest of them all for online shopping, stepping up the battle between the tech giants. AFP FILE HOTO

SAN FRANCISCO— Microsoft is so confident it has the Internet’s best email service that it’s about to spend at least $30 million to send its message across the U.S.

The barrage begins Tuesday when Microsoft’s twist on email, Outlook.com, escalates an assault on rival services such as Google Inc.’s Gmail.

After keeping Outlook.com in a “preview” phase since July 31, Microsoft Corp. is ready to accept all comers.

To welcome new users, Microsoft is financing what it believes to be the biggest marketing blitz in the history of email. Outlook.com will be featured in ads running on primetime TV, radio stations, websites, billboards and buses. Microsoft expects to spend somewhere between $30 million to $90 million on the Outlook campaign, which will run for at least three months.

Google chairman to sell $2.5 bn of shares

SOURCE: http://technology.inquirer.net/22947/google-chairman-to-sell-2-5-bn-of-shares

WASHINGTON— Google’s Chairman Eric Schmidt plans to sell 3.2 million “A” shares, currently worth $2.5 billion, over the next year, Google said Friday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The sale amounts to 42 percent of Schmidt’s 7.6 million Class A and Class B shares in the company, a 2.3 percent stake in the company, but 8.2 percent of voting power.

The sale is part of a pre-arranged trading plan for Schmidt’s “long-term strategy for individual asset diversification and liquidity,” according to the filing.

“Using this trading plan, Eric can diversify his investment portfolio and can spread stock trades out over a period of one year to reduce market impact.”

Google’s share price climbed 1.5 percent Friday to a new all-time record of $785.37, putting the value of the shares Schmidt will sell at $2.51 billion.

In its September 2012 billionaires list—when Google shares crossed the $700 line for the first time— Forbes ranked Schmidt 138th in the world, with his fortune worth $7.5 billion.

Microsoft slams Google on ‘proper’ YouTube app

Agence France-Presse

SOURCE: http://technology.inquirer.net/21579/microsoft-slams-google-on-proper-youtube-app

NEW YORK – Microsoft stepped up its criticism of Google on antitrust grounds Wednesday, claiming the Internet giant refuses to allow Windows Phone users “proper access” to the YouTube video service.

“Despite government scrutiny, Google continues to block Microsoft from offering its customers proper access to YouTube. This is an important issue because consumers value YouTube access on their phone,” said Microsoft attorney Dave Heiner in a blog post.

“Google often says that the antitrust offenses with which it has been charged cause no harm to consumers. Google is wrong about that. In this instance, for example, Google’s refusal deprives consumers who use competing platforms of a comparable experience in accessing content that is generally available on the Web.”

The comments marked the latest flare-up between the two tech titans and came as US and EU antitrust watchdogs were seeking to conclude probes into Google’s conduct. Some reports said US investigators were preparing to settle for a voluntary agreement from Google without court enforcement.