Technology | Yahoo Yahoo Merger Could Level Online Ad Market But Google team-up would shrink advertisers' options By Matt Cantor Posted Apr 11, 2008 3:57 PM CDT Copied The logo of Google, seen on the front door of the new Google Engineering center in Zurich, Switzerland, in this March 6, 2008 file photo. (AP Photo/Keystone, Walter Bier, file) Winds of a Yahoo-Microsoft merger have sparked a “nuclear war” in the online-advertising world—and the Google-dominated market could soon see major changes, the Wall Street Journal reports. “Nothing short of a new world order in this space is up for grabs,” says an expert. As Yahoo and Microsoft mull joining forces with each other (or perhaps other partners), consolidation could create healthy competition. “Three major players driving to innovate” would diversify the market, says an exec. On the other hand, a possible Google-Yahoo team-up would bring even more power to a company that already controls much of the search-ad market—perhaps improving efficiency but limiting options. If you can’t move money to a Google competitor, “the only option is to retreat from the search market, lower your spend, or grin and bear it,” says an advertiser. Read These Next Trumps ends trade talks with Canada. Mid That 'buy now, pay later' loan may soon hit your credit score. Actor Sam Rockwell gets residuals from movie he wasn't in. Report an error