Microsoft Determined to Catch Google

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer vowed that the software giant is determined to expand market share against opponent Google in the profitable field of online advertising and Web searching.

Presenting at Microsoft’s MIX08 online technology conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ballmer echoed the validation of last month’s $41.2-billion spontaneous offer for Yahoo. In a question-and-answer period with Guy Kawasaki, venture capitalist and previous Apple employee, he said the planned deal to acquire Yahoo would accelerate the company’s labors to gain competitive ground on Google.

If the deal really happens, Ballmer said that the two companies will work collectively to reduce any overlapping services.

“It won’t make sense to have two search services, two advertising services, two mail services, and we will have to sort some of that through,” said Ballmer, who also broached the company’s efforts to build a larger presence in the online services market.

Earlier this week, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates announced at the Microsoft Office SharePoint Conference 2008 it would commence the beta process for its Microsoft Online Services, offering hosted versions of applications such as Exchange and SharePoint directly to end users.

Conjecture also appeared last week that Microsoft is constructing out 24 data centers for an overall capacity of roughly 12 million square feet, as part of its rising strategy of offering hosted applications.