Could Microsoft Really Collapse? That Is Steve Ballmer’s Nightmare

Microsoft, one of the most successful software companies ever, has sales of nearly $70 billion a year, annual profits approaching $20 billion, nearly $60 billion in cash, and is still growing sales around 10% per year.

But somehow, some people in Silicon Valley are convinced that Microsoft is going to collapse. Soon. Like in the next few years.

Why do they think so.

Here’s the nightmare scenario that could keep Steve Ballmer and his minions awake at night — and keep him working long hours during the day to prevent it. Read more

Zynga: a possible valuation of 10 billion dollars?

While it appears that an eventual stock market listing by Facebook is starting to come to light, another web player also appears to be preparing for such an event: software developer Zynga, looking for a market valuation of 10 billion dollars.

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Cyber Monday sales break record, surpass $1.25 billion

U.S. retail e-commerce spending for the first 28 days of the 2011 holiday season has surpassed $15 billion, according to comScore

Consumers took full advantage of Cyber Monday deals, racking up a record-breaking $1.25 billion worth of online purchases on the first business day of the week following Thanksgiving.

After a busy Thanksgiving and stellar Black Friday, web watcher comScore predicted that Cyber Monday sales would exceed last year’s record. In 2010, Cyber Monday was the biggest online shopping day of the year, with sales just over $1 billion.

The predictions came true. Monday’s $1.25 billion tally is 22% bigger than last year’s Cyber Monday haul. It’s the heaviest online spending day in history, and the second day on record to surpass the billion-dollar threshold, comScore says.

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