NevOn:  "This looks like the end of any speculation that Yahoo might be interested in acquiring Six Apart for its blogging offerings."

I don't normally blog about the competition. It usually comes off the wrong way or gets taken in the wrong way or...well, suffice to say, its usually better that I write about other things.

But in this case, there's a latent observation that needs to be brought into relief.

Everybody has a blogging solution. Google, Yahoo! Microsoft/MSN, AOL -  and they are all focused on, at least for the short term, beating Six Apart into the ground. 

This battle will be won and lost in terms of the number of subscribers that each of these firms can lay claim to. Just like the IM wars, just like the portal wars, just like the browser wars.

Six Apart must now take a defensive position (assuming that there isn't a massive acquirier in the wings that will let Six Apart walk more comfortably with these behemoths.)

Each of these firms is going to be hyper-concerned about the number of subscribers that each can migrate to their respective blogging services.

The latent implication? None of these firms are going to be able to help ISPs and webhosting companies grow their businesses in any meaningful way because of the conflict of interest inherent in their position. They can't count your customers as theirs. No customers? No win.

Let me know if you need an honest broker to help you with your blogging rollout. I know a few people that might be able to help you out.