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Yesterday in a speech at Stanford University, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer suggested Microsoft will be taking more risks with its search entries.  Acknowledging Google’s dominant position, Ballmer pointed to opportunities Microsoft can afford to chase and evolve.  According to Ballmer, some will be hits, some will be disasters.

“There are some things we have an opportunity to do precisely because we are not the market leader,” he said. “We can experiment with new business models. We have less to lose than the market leader does.”

Ballmer pointed to the success of the LiveSearch Cashback program where users were paid to use the site.  The plan was interesting for sure and seemed to give the company some traction. 

“We’ll try some new products that are going to be a disaster,” he said, pointing to Microsoft Bob as the canonical example from the company’s past. “It wasn’t terrible…it flopped miserably, but I am glad we did it.”

Ballmer was later asked about Yahoo search possible acquisition and declined to comment substantially about it.  He did say that appropriate discussions may or may not be taking place; which is helpful.  Ballmer did note that having more customers is helpful and presumably Yahoo can help with that.  Let the new Microsoft-Yahoo rumors begin again!

Source: [CNET]