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Microsoft, as of our publishing deadline, doesn’t seem particularly interested in making another attempt at purchasing Yahoo while the disgruntled Icahn is throwing his own little tantrum. Will it make a difference? It reminds one of a failed betrothal, complete with angry parent attempting to force a union. I, for one, am eager to see how Yahoo and Microsoft handle this situation in the near future.

The Telecommunications & Media practice at Compete released the results of a survey that suggest consumers may be willing to sign up for quad-play services from their existing telco or cable provider. Of over 2,500 customers surveyed, 43% said they were willing to purchase cell phone service from their current provider. The interest in bundled packages seems to be steadily increasing and it seems likely there will be more talk of “quad-play” in the future, leading to some interesting partnerships between wireless providers and cable and telco providers. Speculation on this topic leads to several questions: Will consumers come out ahead in a system where one company can control all of their communication needs? Will telcos and cablecos start adding car insurance, electricity, and gas services into the mix and end up with “quint-play” or “sept-play” services? (What you would call a bundle of six?) Will Sprint be the last kid in class picked for a team? Stay tuned to Pipeline to find out….

EarthLink cannot seem to find a buyer for the network that it spent $17 million to put together and is having trouble even giving it away with a bonus of $1 million in cash. Perhaps they should offer it to me…

includes HP, Zimbra, and “Other Industry Leaders to Creative Innovative Web-based Communications Application.” Verizon Business has won a contract to deploy and manage a secure global IP network that will link thousands of U.S. Department of Homeland Security sites under a new Networx Universal task order. Verizon Business will serve as primary service provider under the OneNet program, providing managed IP and security services, and will help the 22 agencies that make up the Department of Homeland Security combine onto one common and secure IP network. Verizon Business will also employ Emergency Communications Services, “a new service available to all government agencies under Networx Universal, to help DHS better prepare for emergency response to man-made and natural disasters. ECS will enable DHS to establish quick, mobile connectivity to any affected area within the United States and its territories to help meet

Comcast has decided to buy Plaxo, 50-employee company in Mountain View, California that specializes in staying connected socially. The purchase will enable Comcast to go add social networking services to Comcast.net, Fancast.com, and Fandango.com, services that Comcast says will also be available through customer’s set-top boxes and various other devices. The partnership with Plaxo is part of Comcast’s effort to launch its SmartZone™ communications center, a tool which is supposed to give customers free access to “many of the most innovative and popular communications tools…” The partnership also

its mission of disaster response and disaster recovery.” The agreement is valued at $678.5 million and will be valid for the next 10 years.

Comptel has just announced that the number of its telecom subscribers on the Indian subcontinent has reached near 200 million. Mr. Parag Grover, Comptel’s Country Manager for Indian subcontinent, comments: “We are really pleased with Comptel’s success on the Indian sub-continent. Many of the leading service providers in the region are Comptel’s customers. Our excellent relationship with our customers and our partners bodes well for