Google 'concerned' over Yahoo! acquisition

Search engine firm Google has expressed further concern over attempts by Microsoft to purchase Yahoo!.

Chief executive of the company Eric Schmidt told journalists that such an acquisition could have negative implications for the free movement of information online if the software giant succeeded.

He commented: "We would hope that anything they did would be consistent with the openness of the internet but I doubt it would be."

Reuters polled financial analysts and discovered that an "overwhelming" majority believe Microsoft will eventually acquire the search portal.

Last month, David Drummond, senior vice-president of corporate development and chief legal officer of Google, expressed fears that Microsoft is seeking to establish a proprietary monopoly over the web.

He argued that a combination of Microsoft and Yahoo! would allow one firm to possess an "overwhelming" level of control of instant messaging and email accounts.

Furthermore, Mr Drummond added that the organisations possess two of the most-visited portals online.