Robert Scoble has posted an interesting yet somewhat off the wall post suggesting that once Microsoft acquires Yahoo’s search technology, they will then acquire Facebook for $15 to $20 billion. The acquisition of Facebook has already been discussed among a number of people previously but Robert’s rationale seems a little bit ludicrous.
Why does Robert thing that Microsoft will buy Facebook? Simply because Google can’t currently crawl through Facebook’s website. Facebook can then use Yahoo’s search technology to search within Facebook once it has both groups under its control. While the combined forces makes sense, this is an old way of thinking.
Robert suggests that “we will never get an open Web back if these two deals happen.” Are we really going to turn back the clocks and pursue an AOL walled-garden strategy? It has been proven that this model fails and people end up going elsewhere on the web. Why would it suddenly work this time?
Robert’s apparent conclusion is that search is the killer feature missing from Facebook and once it has it, there is no need to open up. Noticing that Robert’s post was made after 4 AM, I think he may have stayed up a little too late while planning Microsoft’s world domination.
![[Inside Social Apps 2012]](http://www.allfacebook.com/wordpress/wp-content/themes/allfacebook2/images/ISA2012_336x100_F_RegisterNow.gif)
![[AllFacebook Stats: Facebook Analytics for Your Business]](http://www.allfacebook.com/wordpress/wp-content/themes/allfacebook2/images/stpro_allfacebookstats.gif)
![[How can Facebook change your business?]](http://www.allfacebook.com/wordpress/wp-content/themes/allfacebook2/images/FMB_A_MAY2011_336x100_F.gif)
That's a great excuse that I'm going to use on the Gillmor Gang today if Arrington comes after me.
Comment by Robert Scoble — May 19, 2008 @ 5:26 am
Billions people, not millions…. all this talk is daft as..
Comment by JC — May 19, 2008 @ 5:33 am
he also has another one..someone offered a bet on one of Scoble's fb assumptions.. if Scoble looses he ha sot lip synch and Video tape it..Scoble seems to be ducking and hiding form that bet..I wonder why?
Comment by Fred Grott — May 19, 2008 @ 5:33 am
well, now that you mention it, Facebook's search does leave something to be desired…
Comment by Dan — May 19, 2008 @ 5:34 am
Scoble seems to have a knack for this sort of thing becoming 75% true. I don't know if I can see Zuck selling still, but after how the news cycle has pounded on Facebook in the last six months, he may very well want to bounce Facebook off.If Facebook sells, I expect another social network, or more likely a new one, to gain momentum, even in this crowded space. Its just a matter of time.
Comment by Ben Parr — May 19, 2008 @ 5:37 am
Nick: source of the story is here. Robert and Kara both credited the original source. Over the past three months I've posted at least 4 exclusive scoops that all have developed into big stories. It's interesting to see who credits it. http://furrier.org/2008/05/19/silicon-valley-ru…..
Comment by John Furrier — May 19, 2008 @ 5:49 am
he also has another one..someone offered a bet on one of Scoble's fb assumptions.. if Scoble looses he ha sot lip synch and Video tape it..
Scoble seems to be ducking and hiding form that bet..I wonder why?
Comment by Fred Grott — May 19, 2008 @ 6:33 am
Why does Robert thing that Microsoft will buy Facebook? engrish
Comment by Bill Gates — May 19, 2008 @ 6:36 am
Scoble seems to have a knack for this sort of thing becoming 75% true. I don't know if I can see Zuck selling still, but after how the news cycle has pounded on Facebook in the last six months, he may very well want to bounce Facebook off.
If Facebook sells, I expect another social network, or more likely a new one, to gain momentum, even in this crowded space.
Its just a matter of time.
Comment by Ben Parr — May 19, 2008 @ 6:37 am
Nick: source of the story is here. Robert and Kara both credited the original source. Over the past three months I've posted at least 4 exclusive scoops that all have developed into big stories. It's interesting to see who credits it.
http://furrier.org/2008/05/19/silicon-valley-rumo...
Comment by John Furrier — May 19, 2008 @ 6:49 am
Why does Robert thing that Microsoft will buy Facebook?
engrish
Comment by Bill Gates — May 19, 2008 @ 7:36 am
Nick: Great post. For 4 a.m., I think Robert made some very compelling points that, at a minimum, will foster some heated debate today.I agree with you on merit though. A MSFT acquisition at that valuation I find ludicrous. But I also don't find it has scary regarding the "world domination effect" for the very reason you point out. Why would we go back to the AOL walled-garden is precisely something I was thinking.We've spent that last 10 years opening. I don't think the value proposition of Facebook is compelling enough for users to stay behind the wall.
Comment by Lou Paglia — May 19, 2008 @ 8:37 am
Breaking News! Scoble discovers yet more crackpot 'news' up his arse.Quite why anyone listens to this individual is a mystery to me. Maybe if we ignore Scoble, he will go away.
Comment by Adam — May 19, 2008 @ 9:36 am
Nick: Great post. For 4 a.m., I think Robert made some very compelling points that, at a minimum, will foster some heated debate today.
I agree with you on merit though. A MSFT acquisition at that valuation I find ludicrous. But I also don't find it has scary regarding the "world domination effect" for the very reason you point out. Why would we go back to the AOL walled-garden is precisely something I was thinking.
We've spent that last 10 years opening. I don't think the value proposition of Facebook is compelling enough for users to stay behind the wall.
Comment by Lou Paglia — May 19, 2008 @ 9:37 am
That’s a great excuse that I’m going to use on the Gillmor Gang today if Arrington comes after me.
Comment by Robert Scoble — May 19, 2008 @ 9:26 am
Billions people, not millions…. all this talk is daft as..
Comment by JC — May 19, 2008 @ 9:33 am
well, now that you mention it, Facebook’s search does leave something to be desired…
Comment by Dan — May 19, 2008 @ 10:34 am
Breaking News! Scoble discovers yet more crackpot 'news' up his arse.
Quite why anyone listens to this individual is a mystery to me. Maybe if we ignore Scoble, he will go away.
Comment by Adam — May 19, 2008 @ 10:36 am
@John, I saw your news article and appreciate you posting it. I'm not crediting Scoble for breaking the news, I was simply commenting on Robert's take on it.He said "we will never get an open Web back if these two deals happen." I had to post something about a ridiculous statement like that. Sorry about that!
Comment by Nick O'Neill — May 19, 2008 @ 10:55 am
@John, I saw your news article and appreciate you posting it. I'm not crediting Scoble for breaking the news, I was simply commenting on Robert's take on it.
He said "we will never get an open Web back if these two deals happen." I had to post something about a ridiculous statement like that. Sorry about that!
Comment by Nick O'Neill — May 19, 2008 @ 11:55 am
has been mentioned something called aol walled garden.
may I know more about aol's walled garden thing which they did today or in 90s
Comment by jingi liki papapa — May 23, 2008 @ 6:45 am