Let's call the whole thing off...

(By Richard Holway 6.00pm 6th Apr 09)

IBM and Sun
It looks as if Sun’s board has decided that $9.40 a share (c$7b) – the price IBM was said to have offered – was too low. They were also concerned that IBM was offering no guarantees that they would stick by the deal if it faced anti-trust problems.

As a result, Sun’s shares have slumped by 23% to $6.50 as I watch the screens tonight. Given the very positive reaction the deal had when first mooted, I wouldn’t be surprised if it came back to the table at some point. Indeed, IBM’s shares also fell (albeit modestly) by $1.60 to $100.62 on the news.

Google and Twitter
I didn’t report on the media frenzy created when TechCrunch reported Google in talks to buy Twitter – mainly because I didn’t believe it; based on the view “why would Google do something that silly?” Anyway, the current rumour is that the Google+Twitter rumour was just a rumour. Clearly Google does want to get into Twitter search – one of the functions which might make Twitter of greater value to doubters like me. Ie the ability to find out what all the Twitterers are saying about, say, the rumour about Twitter and Google. Google finds it difficult to do that without getting under the skin of Twitter. Whether Twitter will (or should) allow them in, is a moot point.