Yahoo! enter new talks with Microsoft
Yahoo! have confirmed talks with Microsoft over a merger of their advertising sales businesses, a narrower deal than the earlier takeover bid.…
Microsoft
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Napster launch MP3 store
Napster US has launched a DRM-free MP3 store at 99 cents, with all four majors on board, while its subscription service continues to use DRM.…
Zune passes two million units sold
Microsoft's Zune player has passed two million units sold and holds a reported 4% of the US MP3 player market, while the iPod retains 71%.…
NBC sign up to Zune
US broadcaster NBC will make its content available via Microsoft's Zune Marketplace, adding to deals with Comedy Central, MTV and Turner Broadcasting.…
Microsoft bid for Yahoo! off
Microsoft has put its Yahoo! acquisition plans on hold, causing the web firm's share price to slump, and Yahoo! will hold its shareholder meeting on 3 July.…
Microsoft to stop supporting MSN Music tracks
Microsoft will turn off licence key servers for MSN Music from 31 August, meaning downloaded tracks will only play on the user's current computer, MSN's Rob Bennett has warned.…
News Corp may join Microsoft in Yahoo! takeover bid
The New York Times reports News Corp is in talks with Microsoft about an alliance and a joint bid for Yahoo!, while Yahoo! weighs its options including an AOL deal.…
More Microsoft and Yahoo! skirmishes
Yahoo! rejected a takeover offer from Microsoft, and its chairman and CEO hit back at Steve Ballmer's claims that the board had refused to negotiate.…
Will iPods come pre-loaded with music?
Apple is reportedly in talks with majors, especially Universal Music, about a pre-loaded iPod giving access to the iTunes catalogue, with costs passed on to labels.…
Slicethepie secures third round funding
Music investment website Slicethepie has raised $2 million in third round funding from backers including Microsoft UK director Mark Taylor, Mears Group's Bob Holt and Datacash founder Gavin Breeze.…
The kids need to be told more about copyright
A Microsoft study of US pupils found that 49 per cent did not know about copyright laws, suggesting education is needed to curb illegal downloading.…
Yahoo! rejects Microsoft takeover offer
Yahoo! has formally rejected Microsoft's unsolicited takeover offer of over $40 billion, with Microsoft expected to make a higher bid.…