In the field of online advertising and search, Microsoft is an "underdog" compared to rival Google, a company executive has said.Speaking at Microsoft's MIX08 online technology conference in Las Vegas, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer pledged that the firm would gain share against Google in the search and ad market, even if it were his "last breath" at the company, Reuters reports.
He explained that, even though Microsoft does not currently see Google as a serious competitor in desktop computing, enterprise servers, devices or entertainment, the internet is a different matter.
"In online, yeah, it's Google, Google, Google and we're in the game. We're just the little engine that could," Mr Ballmer stated during a question and answer session with venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki.
"It may be my last breath at Microsoft, but we're going to be there and we're going to be working away building share," he added.
Mr Ballmer went on to cite the need to increase market share as one of the main reasons for Microsoft's bid to purchase search engine provider Yahoo!.
He said Microsoft has "a long way to go and Yahoo! seems to be a way to accelerate that because of the critical mass that's required to compete".
Commenting on his company's proposal, Mr Ballmer stated: "We've made an offer, and it's out there, baby."
Recently, Yahoo! revealed that it has postponed the deadline for nominating its directors in an attempt to temporarily fend off Microsoft's takeover bid.
