Among other things, this is also about taking over the IM market. Yahoo+MSN together would be able to impose standards, and in case of acquisition the standards most likely will be closed or just partly open.<p>It is interesting that both MSN and Yahoo messengers are gaining customers largely based on the Eternal September effect. Once a user becomes more advanced, she usually abandons these toys and moves on to better tools. What I am trying to say is, an Eternal September-based market is shaky and if I were... well, whoever - I wouldn't bid on a shaky market. (But then maybe that's the reason I'm not "whoever" and I can't bid.)