MICROSOFT

Microsoft is considering job cuts as early as next week, according to media reports.

Embattled search giant Yahoo named respected Silicon Valley veteran Carol Bartz to replace co-founder Jerry Yang as its CEO, but industry observers question her readiness to run an internet-based business.

Microsoft Corp. has begun handing out unlimited free license keys for the Windows 7 beta, after its license servers were unable to handle a huge surge in applications.

Microsoft's website struggled to stay online today as the masses swooned to its online properties to get their hands on a special pre-release version of its upcoming operating system.

Verizon Communications Inc. selected Microsoft Corp. as its partner to provide Internet services to customers concluding months of speculation.

Microsoft Corp., CEO Steve Ballmer announced Wednesday evening the company will release a test version of Windows 7 on Friday to consumers, a product which he called the best version of Windows ever at the 2009 International Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas.

Amid a swathe of negative publicity against its Playstation 3 device, Sony fired back late Wednesday, issuing a press-release blasting its competitors as lacking features and value.

The four-day Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and the anticipated Macworld event that start tomorrow are expected to draw fewer visitors as the weak economy drains corporate travel and marketing budgets.

A malfunction of some Microsoft Corp Zune music players was caused by an error in the way the device accounts for leap years, Microsoft said.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 has become the least-expensive of all current generation game consoles following price cuts announced in Australia early Wednesday.

Bill Gates said a teary goodbye on Friday to Microsoft Corp, the software maker he built into the world's most valuable technology company based on the ambitious goal of placing a computer on every desk and in every home.

Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn says he will seek to oust Yahoo chief executive Jerry Yang if he successfully gains control of yahoo's board of directors, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Yahoo rejected a $40 per share offer from Microsoft in January 2007 and refused to negotiate in good faith, plaintiffs said in a shareholder lawsuit unsealed on Monday.

Yahoo Inc Chief Executive Jerry Yang said on Wednesday a potential deal with Microsoft has tremendous power, but the software giant appears no longer interested in a full merger.

Software giant Microsoft Corp is discussing ideas for partnerships with Internet portal Yahoo but it is not interested in an acquisition, Yahoo's chief executive said.

Microsoft will include touch screen controls for the next generation of the Windows operating system.

Microsoft will end its book search and academic search projects as it seeks to develop a sustainable business model for its search engine, the company said on Friday.

U.S. stocks rose on Monday, lifting the Standard & Poor's Index to a four-month high, after data suggesting the U.S. economy may not be in recession which helped to overcome concerns over record crude oil prices, while technology shares were boosted as deal talks between Microsoft and Yahoo have been resumed.

Microsoft and Yahoo are in talks for a less ambitious partnership, but neither side is discounting the possibility of another Microsoft takeover attempt of the Internet portal.

Technology shares gained ground on Thursday after Carl Icahn proposed to change the board of Internet giant Yahoo, saying the firm had completely botched negotiations with Microsoft.

Dear Mr. Icahn: We are in receipt of your letter with regard to your intention to seek control of Yahoo!'s board of directors.