From InformationWeek:
Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer pledged Thursday the company would gain share against Google Inc. in online advertising and Web searching, even if it’s his “last breath” at the company.
Speaking at Microsoft’s MIX08 online technology conference in Las Vegas, Ballmer reiterated the justifications for its $41.2 billion unsolicited offer for Yahoo Inc, saying the deal would accelerate its efforts to build a competitor to Google.
“So it may be my last breath at Microsoft, but we’re going to be there, working away, building share,” said Ballmer during a bantering question-and-answer session with Guy Kawasaki, a venture capitalist and one of the first employees at Apple Inc .