Portions of Microsoft up for sale

Summary: Microsoft to let go of Franchise Gator; Paul Allen suffers a blow; Microsoft Stirling postponed

WHAT is a company to do when debt is just around the corner [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]? Let redundant bits go, of course. Microsoft has already laid off many employees, but it's not enough. Having just decided to shut in the attic an old expensive trophy which is Encarta (among many other products and services), Microsoft proceeds to selling Franchise Gator.

Microsoft’s digital advertising division, which includes what was formerly aQuantive, has sold off its small subsidiary Franchise Gator, to Landmark Interactive, paidContent has learned. The sale price is around $20 million.

This is also covered in the following articles, so it's apparently more than just an early/premature rumour:

• Report: Microsoft sells piece of the former aQuantive for $20 mil.



• Landmark buys FranchiseGator.com from Microsoft

There is no end to it. Rumours suggest that Microsoft might sell Razorfish because, like many other divisions, it's just not working out, both financially and technically [1, 2]. This may lead to a rapid decline in Microsoft's value.

Speaking of Microsoft and financial difficulties, its cofounder's 'baby' has entered a debt of $21,000,000,000. How quietly such things can happen.

Charter officials have said that Allen, co-founder of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) and owner of the Portland Trail Blazers, will retain 35 percent voting control of the company, down from 91 percent. And his 51 percent stake in shares will drop to 3 percent.

Charter filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Friday in an effort to reduce its $21 billion debt by $8 billion.

More coverage can be found in:

• Charter Communications files for bankruptcy



• Judge approves Charter Communications motions



• Allen's Charter Comms may run afoul of lawsuits

This was pretty predictable.

And here is yet another Microsoft delay, demonstrating the vapourware tactics run deep in the company's veins.

Microsoft delays Stirling security suite until late 2009/early 2010

Microsoft had been planning to deliver its integrated security suite, codenamed “Stirling” in the first half of this year. On April 3, company officials admitted that Stirling, instead, will begin rolling out very late this year, with substantial components not coming until early 2010.

All in all, not good for Microsoft. ⬆