Time has always seemed to be Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) ally. In the company lore, the software giant takes three cracks at a market before establishing supremacy. The Windows operating system stumbled for years before achieving domination; so did Microsoft's server software.
But when it comes to developing a viable Internet strategy, Microsoft may be running out of time. It has long trailed Web leaders Google Inc. (GOOG ) and Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO ), in the use of its search engine and in search-ad sales. Now it's losing ground. In February, 2005, Microsoft's MSN Search accounted for nearly 14% of all Web searches, compared with a 46% share for search leader Google, according to research firm Nielsen//NetRatings.
