Microsoft to go Independent with MSN Israel, loses Internet Gold
(Rate this article)
Loading ...
MSN Israel, one of Microsoft’s suite of web portals, will now be independently handled by Microsoft.
Microsoft today announced that the MSN Israel web portal would no longer be co-managed by Microsoft and Internet Gold, a leading communications group based in Israel. Microsoft had a 49.9 percent share in the portal, with Internet Gold having the remaining 50.1 percent. The two companies, through the agreement, were responsible for the portal ever since 2000, when MSN Israel Ltd. was first established. While the two companies discuss the terms of migration for the site and any possible future cooperation, the portal will continue to function as Israel’s leading portal.
MSN is Microsoft’s suite of web portals currently operating in 44 countries, most of which are fully controlled by Microsoft.
Eli Holtzman, CEO of Internet Gold, was quoted by Reuters:
We have been happy to partner with Microsoft in establishing MSN Israel over the last eight years. Since then, we have developed MSN Israel into a leading portal in Israel. Given the change in the parties’ online strategies, we have agreed it makes sense for Microsoft to operate msn.co.il independently. We believe this is the right move for both parties and anticipate it will have a positive impact on our results.
The move is likely to affect neither of the two parties. MSN Israel contributed to less than 3 percent of Internet Gold’s total revenues. MSN also operates an Indian portal at http://in.msn.com, which has covered events such as Pangea Day Live, in the past.
Loading ...
Leave a Reply