Microsoft and Yahoo: How The Mighty Have Fallen

The January search engine share rankings from comScore are out, and they make interesting reading in the context of the attempted 'Micro-Hoo' takeover. Google leads the pack at 58.5% share, followed by Yahoo at 22.2% and Microsoft sites at 9.8%.

Compare those numbers with a historical trend chart I put up last April. Since then Google has moved into a clear majority position. Most telling for the intended merger, the combined share of Yahoo and Microsoft are now little more than Yahoo's share alone last spring - a loss of nine or so share point in less than a year.

Those doing post-merger planning at Microsoft (or non-merger planning at Yahoo) had better have some good ideas on how to change the strategic conversation around their Web properties, or all they will simply be perceived as having combined two rapidly wasting assets.